NATO eyes greater control over North Atlantic amid increased Russian activity

The hope is that a final proposal will be ready in time to be presented to NATO leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, when they meet in Brussels in July.

Canada does not appear on the short list for the location of a joint force command; NATO sources told Bloomberg last month that the new headquarters will be based in the U.S.

But the Canadian military played a large role in securing the Atlantic — the lifeline for moving supplies and reinforcements to Europe from North America — during both world wars as well as during the Cold War.

That is why the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force have long focused on anti-submarine capabilities, which NATO could call upon again as it seeks to flex its muscles in the region.

Pavel, who is originally from the Czech Republic and was in Ottawa following a visit to Washington earlier this week, said NATO is also grappling with cyberspace, which is becoming increasingly militarized, but still lacks any clear rules.

Cyberattacks can be as deadly as conventional weapons, he added, and while NATO is strengthening its defences, it also wants to work with countries like Russia and China to set clear rules for when they can and cannot be used.

“It’s still a largely unmapped domain without rules for engagement,” Pavel said.

“We have a number of treaties and regulations in the conventional domain. We have a number of treaties and regulations in the nuclear domain. But we would like most of these regulations in the cyber domain.”

Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

NATO eyes greater control over North Atlantic amid increased Russian activity

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