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Four-Year Milestone
Analysts warn that global instability requires Canada to spend 'more and faster' on domestic defense.
Departure
Russian aircraft exit the ADIZ and return toward Russian airspace; NORAD assets return to base.
Visual Intercept
NORAD pilots establish visual contact with Russian aircraft near the Bering Strait.
QRA Scramble
Quick Reaction Alert aircraft are launched from Alaskan airbases to identify the tracks.
Initial Detection
NORAD radar systems identify multiple unidentified tracks entering the Alaska ADIZ.
NATO Summit Pressure
Allies increase calls for Canada to provide a specific timeline for hitting the 2% GDP spending target.
Defense Policy Update
Canada releases 'Our North, Strong and Free,' pledging $8.1 billion in new spending over five years.
Full-Scale Invasion
Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting immediate Canadian sanctions and aid.
As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year, Canada is grappling with an urgent need to overhaul its defense spending and strategic posture. Rising global instability and threats to Arctic sovereignty are forcing Ottawa to accelerate military modernization and meet long-standing NATO commitments.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) successfully tracked and intercepted Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on February 21, 2026. While the aircraft remained in international airspace, the encounter near the Bering Strait highlights the intensifying strategic friction in the Arctic theater.