Canada responds to Russias "PLANNED" dropping paratroopers in North Pole

Defence Minister Peter MacKay has issued a decidedly cool response to the Russian military's planned paratrooper drop at the North Pole next spring, suggesting Canadian fighter jets would scramble to meet any Russian aircraft approaching Canada's airspace.

"We're going to protect our sovereign territory," MacKay said Friday in Halifax, a day after a Russian embassy spokesman tried to downplay the scheduled parachute mission as a "solely symbolic" event aimed at celebrating the 60th anniversary of a Cold War achievement by two Soviet scientists.

MacKay's stern reaction to Russia's planned paratrooper operation could rekindle tensions between the two countries over Arctic sovereignty. The issue has sparked several verbal clashes in recent years, including a 2007 uproar over a Russian flag-planting on the North Pole seabed and sharp exchanges earlier this year over a Russian bomber mission near Canadian airspace that was intercepted by Canadian fighter jets

Ottawah Citizen

Well, I expected reactions from US, The West in general.......

I did not expect a warning/threat from Canada of all countries...

Now, that said, they know full well, if they get into trouble, they have their VERY big brother right next door.

Now, the North Pole is not to be owned by anyone, as agreed to by all countries.

What Russia is hoping to do is claim/take/steal/ other wise take and hold the minerial rich parts of the Noth pole area.

I would be very happy to see their attempted land grab stopped.

I mean, they alread stole land from George (eurpean) whichincluded a warm water port and land on or very near mineral resources.

Seems like the old Soviet Union mentality of Putin is reamerging....

On this one I kind of have to agree. You know how friken cold it will be to do something like this and the risks involved? Any mechanical timers associated with the parachutes could potentially freeze, their O2 within the parachutes (if they need it) could also freeze at the export nozzle if any moisture whatsoever is around it.

However chances are they will just jump out of a helicopter close to the ground which seems to defeat the whole purpose that their stating in the first place.

Other than a claim to the land and/or resources what other purpose could it have. I mean really you don't place a country's flag in a sea bed just because it's "Cool" that alone costs quite a bundle depending on the depth.

I think Russia's just being stupid and in the end will go "Doh"

They try to take Georgia but fail so they have to try and take over a country that has no soldiers to provide resistance against them. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

My question is how much Oil is up there to be had and how accessible is it? After all he who has all the oil controls the wealth. In that sense it's a smart move if they plan on breaking away from being reliant on other countries.

But then again they could just be doing a stupid photo shoot even though it makes zero sense to do it there.

What does it have to do with Canada ?

Canada's going to scramble jets to prevent a couple of Russians from making an anniversary drop on the North Pole ? It sounds crazy ?

reply to post by Darthorious

Any mechanical timers associated with the parachutes could potentially freeze, their O2 within the parachutes (if they need it) could also freeze at the export nozzle if any moisture whatsoever is around it.

Maybe but I think they would most likely jump out of the back of their version of a C130 like the Canadian Rangers and Search and Rescue guys do in the Arctic all the time and so far they haven't had these kinds of problems.

Originally posted by mrmonsoon
I would be very happy to see their attempted land grab stopped.

You're not the only one.

I think we should back Canada, but at the same time I am worried most of the world will back Russia.

I certainly hope this doesn't lead to WWIII, but the truth is, I think the fight over claiming the few remaining precious natural resources WILL be the cause of it, and I think it's coming soon.

How does a couple of Russians making an anniversary drop become a 'land grab' ?

reply to post by St Vaast


Because, the point of the man drop is to try to claim parts of the North Pole, where "MASSIVE" mineral reserves have been discovered.

Russia knows good and well the entire world agreed that noone would own the North Pole land and or resources.

It is nothing more than an attempt by Russia to steel mineral resources.

It's because they would be invading Canadian air space.

It's our air, you need our permission to fly through it.

And nobody contested that the north was ours until they found all that oil and mineral up there now did they?

Just another ploy to take something that is not theirs and increase visibility for Russian scientific experiments in the region.

And we are a very nice people, but we don't like it when people don't knock before they come in .

~Keeper

As far as I know, no country owns the North Pole, airspace or landspace. That's why there is a dispute over it. Denmark, through Groenland, is the closest to the North Pole but Russia and Norway also have territorial revendications based on geophysics.

reply to post by tothetenthpower


That is a good point and "MAY" change what I thought the article was all about.

If you are correct, it may be about airspace and not about landing troops on NorthPole area to take the land for it's mineral resources.

Nice catch, two thumbs up for clearly paying more attention than I did.

From what i understand Canada Greenland(Denmark) and Russia all have viable claims to the arctic reserves that may or may not be there (it hasn't been proven only theorized). The deciding factor will be the continental shelfs that each country sits on.

Obviously I'm rooting for Canada lol.

Now what this REALLY is about is control of the Northern Passage through the arctic sea. Since all the sea ice has melted(by way of climate change) the way is clear for shipping and making cash ala Panama Canal style.

Canada can take care of itself imo Russia is just beating its chest as it has always done.

reply to post by mrmonsoon


Yeah, because where they drop the Troops or whatever ISN"T Canadian land or airspace, your right about that. But in order to get there, they'd need to fly into Canadian airspace since that's the quickest route.

This is the problem we are having with the issue.

I'm trying to find a map of some sorts which would dictate where the actual "airspace" of Canada ends.

I can't seem to find one, but this is from Wikipedia:

Canadian airspace is the region of navigable airspace above the surface of the Earth that falls within a region roughly defined by the Canadian land mass, the Canadian arctic, the Canadian archipelago, and areas of the high seas.

[1] Airspace is managed by Transport Canada and detailed information regarding exact dimensions and classification is available in the Designated Airspace Handbook which is published every fifty-six days by NAV CANADA.[2]

Source

Now I'm not sure if Artic means NWT or Nunavut.

~Keeper

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Fair enough....

With all due respect to Canadian airspace, my conern is about the mineral resources.

I am too lazy to look at a map, but I believe that there is some route Russia can use that will get troops their without infringing on Canadian airspace.

reply to post by mrmonsoon


And so long as they use that one then we won't send the Sea Kings after em' .

Remember those? Use to duck everytime one flew by out of fear they'd fall apart mid air.

~Keeper

reply to post by tothetenthpower


LOL@10th.........

All kidding aside, it is Russia's attempt to make a land grab....

But more specificly, it is Russia's attempt at a mineral resource grab...

IMO, Russia is acting like the Russian empire looking to loot whatever it can.

reply to post by tothetenthpower


You have legitimate concerns but last time Russians didn't enter Canadian airspace but flew close to it. Still, you have all rights to send fighters just in case of.
But they won't enter your airspace without autorisation, why would they, to provoke an incident ?
Clearly, this story is pumped up because of land/ressource grab. Everyone is showing his muscles, it's not about the airspace that will never be violated.