Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to attend a meeting with Nordic leaders before the upcoming NATO summit. Trudeau will travel to Iceland, where he will join leaders from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway for their annual gathering of Nordic prime ministers. The meeting will also be attended by leaders from Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Åland Islands. The main topic of discussion at the meeting will be “societal resilience” and it coincides with the 50th anniversary of a volcanic eruption in Vestmannaeyjar, a group of islands in Iceland. Trudeau’s attendance at the meeting is an opportunity to discuss common interests with the Nordic nations, including environmental protection, clean energy development, and addressing security challenges.
This meeting comes just over two weeks before the NATO summit in Lithuania, where leaders will discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The recent internal strife in Russia, which involved mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin leading an armed rebellion, caused concern among world leaders. However, tensions were quickly de-escalated after a deal was announced that halted Prigozhin’s march on Moscow. Trudeau has stated that Canada will closely monitor the situation in Russia, and foreign affairs ministers from the G7 held a call to discuss the situation before the deal was made.
Roland Paris, a former senior advisor to Trudeau, highlighted the importance of cooperation among these northern countries, especially as the Arctic region becomes strategically more significant due to melting ice. Each country has a clear interest in ensuring the security and sovereignty of their territory. However, cooperation in the region has been affected by the suspension of working with Russia through the Arctic Council following the invasion of Ukraine. This has raised questions about what cooperation will look like in the future and has caused Canada to reassess its position in the Arctic.
NATO has also increased its focus on the Arctic due to aggression from Russia and China. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has warned about these threats and emphasized the impact of climate change in opening up the region. Trudeau has previously expressed plans to invest in bolstering Canada’s military capabilities in the Arctic, including modernizing the Canada-U.S. Norad system.
The meeting in Iceland also provides an opportunity for Canada and the Nordic countries to demonstrate support for Sweden’s entry into NATO. All the Nordic countries, except Sweden, are already NATO members, and Canada has endorsed their membership. The meeting is also important for trade interests, as Canada has significant two-way trade with the Nordic countries. Additionally, there are strong cultural ties between Iceland and Canada, with Canada being home to a large number of Icelandic immigrants and descendants.
Trudeau’s visit to Iceland follows Iceland President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson’s recent visit to Canada, where they discussed expanding cooperation in green energy, ocean technology, and aquaculture. This visit, along with the recent visit of Canada’s Governor General to Finland and a Canada-Denmark agreement to resolve a border dispute, highlights Canada’s growing interest in enhancing diplomatic relations with Nordic countries.
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