According to the International Treaty, military ships are not allowed in Antarctica for a non -scientific purpose. This is what HMCS Margaret Brooke does in the southern polar region, supporting 15 Canadian climate scientists in their research.
Through her trip to Antarctic, Margaret Brooke was joined by the best Navy commander, Vice Admiral Angus Topshee. In an exclusive interview on board the ship Topshee talked with Susan Ormiston with CBC about why the Royal Navy invested in this kind of mission and why the scientific research expedition can serve to strengthen the polar safety of Canada.
Q: What initiated this mission to Antarctica?
AND: When I looked at what we did in the north, and especially what we saw our opponents in the north, we realized that … we see climate change in the north, we see what China and Russia are doing at the Canadian North (and thinking) I wonder what is happening in the southern pole, and we) we will gain perspective and experience in South America, which are there all over time. And so the genesis of it was, let's go, let's gain practical experience. Let's ensure this implementation serves as a function for us to get closer to the Navy of South America, which works in this polar region. Let's study and see if we can come up with things that will help us protect and defend our own north.
Q: Do you think there is a security fear in Antarctica, as in the Arctic?
AND: Definitely yes. I am afraid that the whole agreement that we would not (militarization and my Antarctica) … could change. And I don't think it is in our interest to allow it to be easily changed.
Q: You said that your goal was to find out what China was doing. So what did you find out?
AND: So I did not realize that the Russians had a base here, which was right next to the Chileans and where exactly that was. And yes, just because of the simple fact that he will go down here and I appreciate how close all these different operations are. And in the research before the descent here we realized that China is increasing their Antarctic trace, and for us we really want to understand: is it the same type of scientific research that they do here, what we saw them (in the north)? A lot of their research is double, of course they serve the military, as well as the economic and potentially diplomatic purpose. So it's interesting to understand it.
Q: How do they know what China or Russia do in Antarctica affect Canadians?
AND: With a military point of view, it is always easy to understand the possibilities of another nation in terms of the army. We can check how many tanks they have, how many ships they have, how many aircraft they have. What is always more difficult to recognize is intention. Countries will always say positive things … In fact, I saw the speeches of the Chinese defense minister, which could be determined by our minister, because the language is the same. But interpretation and meaning of words can often be different. And so, going here, seeing what they are doing, gives us a better understanding of their intention.
The commander of the Royal Navy is in Antarctica that can help Arctic, because both regions become more strategically important for countries such as Russia and China in the field of resources and security.
Q: What do you think their intention is?
AND: I don't know. I think Russia has explained its intentions. Therefore, we observed an increase in Russian abilities in the Arctic. We saw them illegal and unpredictable invasion in Ukraine. I have no doubt about Russia's intentions. But I think that China is something in which there are some disturbing indicators with how they treated some of our aircraft during service, some answers to our activities in the South China Sea. But at a different level I do not know if they work differently than the action if the Chinese task group appeared on Canadian water. We would still go out with our ships and our aircraft to monitor what they do, just like they monitor what we do in their waters.
Q: How would you compare concerns about safety and sovereignty in Arctic and Antarctica?
AND: The biggest difference is the Antarctic Treaty. So there is a whole idea that the world's countries will cooperate and that no country has benefit. While the Arctic, all areas are already designated, (although) some specific claims should be made … But I think that the biggest difference is the fact that there is already competition in the Arctic, we know that the resources in the Arctic can be questioned. And so we have to do, because Canada still does what we have done, i.e. build the ability to make sure that we can understand everything that happens in our Arctic and answer that our interests are protected.
Q: You spoke about a little Persian navy. You talked about old ships with a long life and a lack of contemporary ships. How to defend such expenses to reach thousands of kilometers south of Canada and discover this part of the world?
AND: Yes, it's quite simple … We saw the greatest increase in human well -being since World War II because of the peace that was kept at sea. Freedom of shipping around the world and the desire has no chokes of chokes, will be stopped by various things. Regardless of whether it is piracy off the coast of Somalia, Houthi's actions in the Red Sea and similar things. South American Navy is also part of this solution. And so this ship, Margaret Brooke, visits almost every country of South America on the way around, working with all the key naval naval of the region to build partnerships and relations. … we are interested in this region, because if things are safe here, it is a benefit for everyone. And so I think that this is a relatively small investment in the common burden of continuing to make sure that the sea is free and open to everyone.
Q: What about this cooperation with scientists? Everyone is there in a quarter, they work, hoping that they have another chance to do something like that, with such a ship and support they had. Will this kind of co -creator be continued?
AND: I think this is a kind of thing that is worth doing every three to five years to go down. You know, visit South America, visit Antarctica to continue research. But to be honest, we must make sure that … governments and organizations from which these scientists come from … found value in it. And if Canada still thinks that it is worth doing, yes, we should definitely do it again. … my feeling now, when I talked to scientists and I see the crew on board and the knowledge we gained, I think it is worth the West.
Antarctica has been ruled by the Treaty of Nations since 1959, but with an increase in geopolitical tensions and a changing world order, this management system is under pressure. Since on board an unprecedented Canadian mission to a frozen continent, Susan Ormiston from CBC explains what it is about and how countries approach more control.
Q: I heard you talk about “this is a global navy.” Some people wonder how we can be a global navy? We are too small. China creates ships, they are now the largest navy in terms of ship in the world.
AND: Well, I would like to have shipyards, just like China. In fact … (southern) of the shipyard Korea would be fantastic. So we are building a fleet that we need now, with the involvement of the government-15 river-class destroyers, a potential acquisition of 12 … submarines. We have six ships in this class, and two tankers come. So we build the fleet we need. … So yes, we can be a small navy, but we really have a global range. In fact, HMCS Montreal last year made a round round world as part of the implementation of Indo-Pacific.
Q: We are going to another Canadian election. What are you going to ask the new government about?
AND: I prefer that we avoid election promises around the defense because they are negative promises. But no, I think that no matter what government has been chosen, Canada is quite clear that we must spend more on defense and security, because the world is a dangerous place, and the oceans around Canada only protect (USA) with a powerful navy.