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Canada has long been considered a relatively secure country … However, this overall picture is changing. Canada now encounters growing security pressure across the Arctic, the Euro-Atlantic, and the Indo-Pacific.
The Arctic is no longer a distant rear area. Melting sea ice, Russia’s military activities, China’s interest in the Northern Sea Route and its resources, and the increasing military importance of polar surveillance have all made Canada’s northern approaches strategically sensitive.
Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine has intensified NATO-driven pressure on Canada to raise defence spending, replenish defence stockpiles and modernize its military as reflected in Inflection Point 2025, the Canadian Army Modernization Framework. Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, too, reflects Ottawa’s growing recognition that the security of the Pacific directly affects its national interest. In other words, Canada is fast turning into a security actor that must engage the Arctic, the Atlantic, and the Pacific.
These developments are creating opportunities for long-term defence cooperation with key allies. Japan and South Korea stand out as especially promising partners. … Japan offers advanced maritime sensors, missiles, aerospace, and undersea technology. Tokyo’s recent decision to lift its ban on lethal weapons has made this equation more important, since it can now become a proactive defence industrial partner. On the other hand, South Korea increasingly provides export platforms with scale, tempo, affordable prices, and proven capabilities.
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