Canada’s minister of foreign affairs Melanie Joly said she will establish two new Arctic consulates — one in Alaska and another in Greenland, and she will appoint a dedicated Arctic ambassador.
The Anchorage diplomatic mission is being seen as a message to the United States that Canada intends to collaborate with the Trump Administration on Arctic issues during a time when Russia and China are taking an increased interest in the Arctic, and when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on shaky standing with the incoming president.
“Canada must be strong in the North American Arctic, and it requires deeper collaboration with its greatest ally, the United States,” Melanie Joly, Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, said in policy document announcing the changes.
“The Arctic is no longer a low-tension region. We live in a tough world and we need to be tougher in our response,” Joly said.
The news was first reported by CBC in Canada. Read more at this link.
President Joe Biden in September appointed the first-ever Arctic ambassador, Alaskan Michael Sfraga, but his shelf life will likely be shortened, as President Donald Trump is sure to either make his own pick or leave the seat open for a while.
