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How can Canada protect its claimed northern lands and borders?

There seems to be more than just a gentleman's disagreement between countries in regard to the sovereignty of huge areas of the Arctic . If a powerful nation moves in and develops waters or basins considered Canada, what would Canada do? Could Canadians have the gall to ask the Yanks for help, after years of spitting at their southern 'neighbors'?

Public Comments

1. What i say now is my oppinion, nothing more nothing less. I think if a powerfull nation moves into the arctic, in land canada claimed. I dont think they would do much beyond Trade restrictions. And even if they did go to war, i dont think the US Population would be to keen to go to war for canada. A war over the arctic is almost as pointless as the war in iraq. it would result in nothing more then more pointless deaths.
2. The U.S. would help. Anything that happens to Canada is right on America's doorstep. Remember, we do have Alaska up there which has many military installations. Plus I think there is actually is a treaty between us that we will both will join forces if our home territory is invaded.
3. What Canada sees is the Northwest Passage opening up due to Global Warming. This would shorten the shipping route from Asia to Europe by 10,000 miles. Since the NWP is within Canadian territorial waters, they feel they should be able to charge for transit of the NWP. However there are two, possibly three problems with this. First, the entire Canadian Armed Forces is about 50,000 people. That includes active duty, reservists and civilians. With a small force like that, they would be hard pressed to defend the NWP against China, Russia or even Japan. Second, they are predicting the Arctic will be ice free this summer. If that becomes a yearly event, ships could just go far enough north that they would be outside the 12 mile limit of Canada and outside the NWP. Third, much thought is being put into submarine transport ships. They would be less effected by bad weather and could make the passage year around, ice or not. Short of attacking the subs, there would not be much Canada could do about them.
4. The canadian and US "disagreement" is only localized in certain social groups. The US's greatest trade ally is Canada and though, as with every country to another, there have been disputes, at the moment, we are working very well with Canada and Likewise. Also on a side not not from the source If you asked for help up north it would allow us to set up legalized bases at closer vantages to some northern non-allied countries like North Korea.
5. Canada and America are part of NATO and share the same air defence command. America is obliged to help Canada out should her territory be attacked or seized, and vice-versa. Keeping in mind that when America was attacked, Canada was eager to join the fight alongside their southern neighbors. The Canadians have a force known as the Canadian Rangers that patrol and survey such areas to support the conventional Canadian Forces. Unless a more powerful country felt the need to squander masses of resources to put lots of men, tanks and artillery to steal barely habitable snow, the Canadians have the upper hand.
6. Would Canadians ask for help. They'd probably go to International Court first. Then if the other nation was extremely violent, they'd get the UN to support them along with the US