Canada and the Power Play in the Arctic | Current History Podcast #6

Get notified when new podcast episode goes live by subscribing at https://current-history.com/subscribe.  Subscribers receive all podcasts and posts through the Current History Substack. Your support helps make this content possible.In this episode, Ken Briggs speaks with policy researcher Marcus Wong about the transformation of the Arctic from a frozen afterthought into a contested strategic arena. They discuss the retreat of sea ice, Russia's military buildup, China's polar ambitions, the legal ambiguities surrounding the Northwest Passage under UNCLOS, the gaps in Canada's Arctic defense posture, and what a serious Canadian strategy would actually require.About the GuestMarcus Wong is a public relations professional, former public official, and policy analyst whose graduate research at Havard focused on Canadian Arctic sovereignty and security. Marcus also holds degrees from Queens’ University in Canada and the University of Birmingham in the UK. He spent two decades in communications and government relations.Marcus served as an elected member of West Vancouver City Council, has been appointed to the West Vancouver Police Board and the Board of Trustees at Queen's University, and worked for the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Embassy of Canada in Washington. He is a board member of the NATO Association of Canada and the author of the six-part Power Play in the Arctic series we are discussing today.About the HostKen Briggs is a writer, researcher, and consultant with a deep interest in history, policy, global affairs, and emerging technology. A former engineer, Ken has spent a lifetime thinking, writing, and talking about these issues and created Current History to explore how they shape the world we live in. His research interests include the geopolitical impacts of the energy transition and technology, political science and philosophy, and applied history. As a consultant, he also advises companies on navigating policy and geopolitical risk.Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@current-historySubscribe to Current History on Substack: https://current-history.com/subscribe/ Follow Ken on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenbriggs3/Follow Ken on X: https://x.com/KenWBriggs3Topics and Time Stamps00:00 – Introduction00:41 - Guest introduction: Marcus Wong01:52 - Opening question: Why the Arctic, why now?05:10 - Topic 1: The new Arctic -- climate, sea ice, and resources09:11 - Topic 2: The great power competition18:19 - Topic 3: Canada's vulnerabilities and legal challenges26:34 - Topic 4: A credible path forward.35:06 - Topic 5: Expert scenarios and the decade ahead40:33 - Listener takeaways43:27 - Outro For Further ReadingPower Play in the Arctic — NATO Association of CanadaPart 1: From Isolation to InsecurityPart 2: Dissecting the Arctic’s Power Struggles by StatePart 3: A Policy Prescription for Canada’s Arctic DefencePart 4: A New Partnership Model for Sovereignty in the High NorthPart 5: Blueprint for Canadian Arctic LeadershipPart 6: Cold Fronts, Hot Choices — Dr. George Soroka Looks Ahead Get full access to Current History at current-history.com/subscribe