Reference News Network, March 15 report, according to the website of the UK's Financial Times, on March 13, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to invest hundreds of millions of Canadian dollars in military facilities in the country's Arctic region as part of a commitment to significantly increase defense spending by 2035.

He said that most of the 3.5 billion Canadian dollars (about 2.57 billion US dollars) would be invested in "frontline operating bases" such as Yellowknife, Inuvik, and Iqaluit, as well as other locations, enabling the Canadian Armed Forces to defend the Arctic without relying on allies.

Canada has elevated the vast Arctic region to a more important position in its military agenda.

Amid the unpredictable behavior of its closest ally, the United States, Carney also seeks to enhance Canada's military independence. Carney said on Tuesday in Yellowknife: "Canada is fully taking responsibility for defending its Arctic sovereignty."

The three major locations involved in this investment are facilities of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Since the 1950s, Canada has operated this joint air defense system with the United States.

Although the investment announced on the 12th came from the 2022 expenditure plan for modernizing the North American Aerospace Defense Command, Ottawa had not previously specified how these funds would be used or where they would be applied.

Carney stated that the defense funds would be used to upgrade airport facilities, build new hangars or renovate existing ones, construct ammunition and fuel storage facilities, and improve military barracks, warehouses, and information technology systems.

Carney said: "After decades of limited and sporadic investments in the Arctic region, the new government of Canada is now acting with ambition worthy of this vast region and its people."

The Carney government has committed to increasing Canada's defense spending to 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035.

James Yurkiewicz, CEO of Canadian defense contractor Wicksley, said that renewed focus on Arctic defense infrastructure is a necessary measure to bridge the "capability gap" in the Arctic. (Translated by Yang Xuelai)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7617391797622358554/

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