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HALIFAX ? Defence Minister Peter MacKay says the Canadian government is closely watching Russian plans to drop paratroopers in the Arctic next April.
"Any country that is approaching Canadian airspace, Canadian territory, will be met by Canadians," MacKay said Friday in Halifax after an announcement on an international security conference planned for November.
MacKay didn't give any specifics on what Canada will do in April but he said Canada is prepared to protect its borders.
"We're going to protect our sovereign territory and we're always to meet any challenge to that territorial sovereignty. "
A Russian general announced plans this week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first parachute drop at the North Pole by sending paratroopers to the same site.
Tensions with Russia over Arctic territory have increased since a Russian scientist placed a Russian flag on the floor of the ocean under the North Pole in 2007.
At the time, MacKay said countries couldn't go around planting flags and claiming territory like they did in the 15th century.
In February, Canada sent fighter jets to intercept a Russian bomber flying towards Canadian airspace.
MacKay says there have been no recent intrusions of Russian bombers.
"We have scrambled F-18 jets in the past and they'll always be there to meet them," he said.
In recent years, countries have become more interested in the resources buried under Arctic ice and the frozen territory is hotly contested.
Many countries have beefed up their military presence in the Arctic.
Russia, Canada, Sweden, Finland and Norway are increasing Arctic forces or increasing training for existing forces.
International experts say the military buildup indicates that nations with territory in the resource-rich Arctic believe that armed conflict in the high north is a very real possibility.
They also say the militarization could make it much harder to protect the Arctic's fragile environment.
Canada, the United States, Norway, Denmark and Russia have agreed to abide by international law while scientists map the Arctic seabed.
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local.../?hub=CP24Home
HALIFAX ? Defence Minister Peter MacKay says the Canadian government is closely watching Russian plans to drop paratroopers in the Arctic next April.
"Any country that is approaching Canadian airspace, Canadian territory, will be met by Canadians," MacKay said Friday in Halifax after an announcement on an international security conference planned for November.
MacKay didn't give any specifics on what Canada will do in April but he said Canada is prepared to protect its borders.
"We're going to protect our sovereign territory and we're always to meet any challenge to that territorial sovereignty. "
A Russian general announced plans this week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first parachute drop at the North Pole by sending paratroopers to the same site.
Tensions with Russia over Arctic territory have increased since a Russian scientist placed a Russian flag on the floor of the ocean under the North Pole in 2007.
At the time, MacKay said countries couldn't go around planting flags and claiming territory like they did in the 15th century.
In February, Canada sent fighter jets to intercept a Russian bomber flying towards Canadian airspace.
MacKay says there have been no recent intrusions of Russian bombers.
"We have scrambled F-18 jets in the past and they'll always be there to meet them," he said.
In recent years, countries have become more interested in the resources buried under Arctic ice and the frozen territory is hotly contested.
Many countries have beefed up their military presence in the Arctic.
Russia, Canada, Sweden, Finland and Norway are increasing Arctic forces or increasing training for existing forces.
International experts say the military buildup indicates that nations with territory in the resource-rich Arctic believe that armed conflict in the high north is a very real possibility.
They also say the militarization could make it much harder to protect the Arctic's fragile environment.
Canada, the United States, Norway, Denmark and Russia have agreed to abide by international law while scientists map the Arctic seabed.
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local.../?hub=CP24Home
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