There has been a noticeable shift in the activities observed by NORAD regarding Russian and Chinese presence in the Arctic region, according to the top commander of NORAD, U.S. Gen. Gregory Guillot. Guillot mentioned in an exclusive interview with CBC News that there has been an increase in the frequency and coordination of air and sea incursions near North America over the past year.
Guillot highlighted a significant change in 2025, emphasizing the higher volume and simultaneous nature of the activities. He described instances where multiple ships operated in different parts of the Arctic Ocean concurrently, followed by air incursions in other regions shortly after.
Defense analysts suggest that such activities are aimed at testing the responses of the U.S. and Canadian military forces. By late December 2025, NORAD had reported at least eight incidents of tracking Russian military aircraft near the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone. These incidents occurred in international airspace adjacent to North American territories.
While there were no confirmed sea incursions publicly disclosed, it was noted that the Canadian military monitored a Chinese research vessel in Arctic waters off Alaska for the second time in two years. Guillot expressed confidence in NORAD’s surveillance capabilities and its readiness to protect the Far North when needed.
Regarding the potential integration of Canada into the Golden Dome missile defense system proposed by the Trump administration, Guillot stated that discussions have taken place with Canada’s top military commander, Gen. Jennie Carignan. The federal government is in talks with the U.S. about joining the initiative, but no formal commitment has been made yet.
Guillot refrained from discussing the political aspects but focused on the operational aspects of potential integration. He mentioned considerations about expanding NORAD to include missile defense or allowing each country’s operational commands to manage their missile defense systems.
Furthermore, Guillot mentioned ongoing cooperation between the U.S. Army and Canada’s joint operations command on deploying counter-drone technology in the Arctic. He highlighted the successful testing of these systems in extreme conditions and emphasized the importance of such technology in defending against unmanned aerial systems.
In a separate development, the U.S. Army conducted a large-scale UAS and counter-UAS experiment in Alaska, testing the performance of these systems in cold weather. Additionally, plans are underway to deploy a micro nuclear reactor to power an air force base in the Alaskan Arctic, with potential implications for Canada’s radar station deployment plans in the region. Guillot sees micro reactors as a promising advancement for military operations in challenging Arctic conditions.