Canada Unveils New Arctic Foreign Policy, Plans to Appoint Ambassador for Region

The Canadian government has launched a new Arctic foreign policy, which will involve appointing an Arctic ambassador and opening new consulates in Greenland and the U.S. state of Alaska.
The new foreign policy document released on Dec. 6 outlines Canada’s updated Arctic policy, which involves closer collaboration with the United States on the “North American Arctic.” When announcing the new policy, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said it comes at a time when foreign states like Russia and China are increasingly making incursions into the region.
“Canada is an Arctic nation, and we are at a critical moment,” she said. “The Arctic is no longer a low-tension region. We live in a tough world, and we need to be tougher in our response.”
The policy says Canada plans to name an Arctic ambassador to advance the country’s polar interests in multinational forums and engage with Arctic and non-Arctic states. Canada will also set up consulates in Anchorage, Alaska, and Nuuk, Greenland to increase bilateral ties with the regions.
Ottawa also seeks to engage in boundary negotiations with the U.S. over the Beaufort Sea, while implementing the boundary agreement reached between Canada and Denmark over the Hans Island in 2022.
During the new policy announcement, Defence Minister Bill Blair said Canada’s defence policy will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with the “tools that they need to reinforce our sovereignty in the region,” while also giving northern communities access to the infrastructure.
The Arctic foreign policy was months in the making, and its announcement comes at a time when Canada is under pressure to react to the incoming U.S. administration. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened Canada with tariffs over border security and has been critical of countries who do not pull their weight in the NATO military alliance.