U.K. sending military expert to Canada amid Russian threat to Arctic – National

Britain is sending a navy knowledgeable on the risk posed by Russia and China within the Arctic to work within the British Excessive Fee in Ottawa.

In an indication of deepening co-operation between Canada and Britain on defence issues, the U.Okay. is dispatching Nick Diggle, a former Royal Navy officer and analysis specialist in Arctic safety, to Ottawa in September.

The previous counterterrorism knowledgeable’s transfer follows a warning from Canada’s defence chief that defending the Arctic area is a key concern for the Armed Forces.

At a convention in Ottawa in March, Gen. Wayne Eyre mentioned Russia had reoccupied deserted Chilly Struggle bases in its Far North.

The specter of a Russian incursion into Canada’s Arctic may be very low for the time being, he mentioned, however it’s “not inconceivable that our sovereignty could also be challenged” sooner or later from the North.

Eyre additionally highlighted Russia’s “remilitarization” of the North, which is doubtlessly weak due to its sparse inhabitants and lack of infrastructure.

Diggle, a former warfare officer with the Royal Navy, has been researching how the U.Okay. and Canada can work collectively “to fight the geostrategic risk from Russia and China within the Arctic” on the Altering Character of Struggle Centre primarily based at Oxford College in England.

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The centre, which research armed battle, mentioned Diggle will take up the submit of minister-counsellor on the Excessive Fee in Ottawa.

In an October interview with the Sunday Instances, a British newspaper, U.Okay. Overseas Secretary Liz Truss mentioned London is planning to strike new safety offers with democratic nations to combat the affect of China and Russia.

Gen. Sir Jim Hockenhull, chief of defence intelligence within the U.Okay., signalled final 12 months that Britain is planning to ship extra intelligence personnel abroad throughout a uncommon public look on the Defence and Safety Gear Worldwide commerce exhibition in London.

The U.Okay’s Ministry of Defence instructed The Canadian Press that Britain is rising the variety of defence intelligence personnel who function abroad to assist the nation “construct relationships with key worldwide companions.”

Diggle, who didn’t reply to a request for remark, was commissioned into the Royal Navy as a warfare officer in 1988.

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He served within the navy for over 12 years, later becoming a member of the U.Okay.’s Overseas Ministry, the place he served in a variety of roles and abroad postings together with in Oman and Mexico. He additionally just lately labored on international counterterrorism points in London.

A spokesperson for the British Excessive Fee in Ottawa mentioned developments within the Arctic have an effect on the atmosphere, prosperity, power provide and safety.

A 2021 overview set out the U.Okay.’s method of serving to to take care of the area as one in all excessive co-operation and low pressure, contributing to Arctic science _ notably on the impacts of local weather change _ and dealing with companions equivalent to Canada, she added.