Prime Minister Mark Carney and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have signalled that the future credibility of the NATO alliance may hinge on how it responds to rising security pressures in the Arctic.
Meeting Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the two leaders discussed the growing strategic importance of the High North at a time when the alliance is facing renewed strain particularly following U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about acquiring Greenland from Denmark, a fellow NATO member.
In a statement released after the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office said Carney and Rutte reaffirmed their firm support for Denmark’s sovereignty, including Greenland, and made clear that any decisions regarding the territory’s future must be made by Greenland and Denmark alone.
The statement described the current moment as a “test” for NATO, with both leaders agreeing that strengthening Arctic security must be the alliance’s immediate priority. That effort, they said, will require faster and larger investments along NATO’s northwestern flank.
Carney used the meeting to underline Canada’s expanding military footprint in the Arctic, citing major spending commitments aimed at reinforcing national sovereignty in the Far North. These include maintaining a permanent military presence year-round, deploying advanced over-the-horizon radar systems to track distant threats, and expanding Canada’s capabilities in submarines, aircraft and ground forces.
Addressing the forum earlier in the week, Carney said Canada is moving quickly to increase defence spending, with plans to double it by 2030. His office went further, noting a longer-term objective of quadrupling defence expenditures over the next decade.
Canada’s renewed focus comes as NATO allies have agreed to raise defence spending to five per cent of GDP, including 3.5 per cent on core military capabilities a target strongly promoted by Trump.
Rutte, speaking during a panel discussion at Davos, publicly welcomed Canada’s renewed engagement with the alliance. He said Ottawa’s approach since Carney became prime minister reflects a clear recommitment to collective defence and the transatlantic partnership.
Meanwhile, Trump once again used his Davos appearance to argue that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security. Although he insisted he would not use military force, he repeated his claim that the territory should belong to the United States remarks that have unsettled European allies.
The comments have also reignited debate in Canada over how much the country can rely on Washington as a steady partner in Arctic defence. While some observers have raised concerns, defence analysts caution that distancing Canada from U.S. military cooperation would be risky, given the deep integration of North American defence systems.
Trump’s speech also included sharp criticism of NATO and doubts about whether the alliance would defend the United States in a crisis. Historically, NATO’s collective defence clause has been invoked only once, after the September 11, 2001 attacks a response that drew Canada, Denmark and other allies into a long and costly mission in Afghanistan.
Rutte declined to comment publicly on the diplomatic tensions surrounding Greenland, saying he was addressing the matter privately with leaders. He stressed, however, that NATO must act decisively to counter growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic.
“We have to defend the Arctic together,” Rutte said, while also warning allies not to lose focus on Ukraine, which he described as NATO’s top strategic priority.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Carney and Rutte also discussed ongoing peace efforts related to Ukraine and reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s security and long-term stability.
