CSIS warns of Chinese and Russian espionage targeting Canada’s Arctic development

Canada’s top intelligence official says foreign spies from China and Russia are actively targeting governments and companies involved in developing the country’s Arctic region.

In a national security address on Thursday, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) director Dan Rogers said his agency has observed sustained intelligence-gathering activities in the North, with both public institutions and private industry being approached or monitored by foreign actors.

Rogers noted that non-Arctic countries, particularly China, are seeking to expand their economic and strategic presence in the region as melting ice opens new transportation and resource opportunities. He also cautioned that Russia – an Arctic power with extensive military assets in the area – continues to act unpredictably and aggressively in ways that could undermine Canada’s sovereignty and regional stability.

To counter these threats, Rogers said CSIS is working closely with Indigenous governments, territorial leaders, and northern communities to share security information and understand local perspectives. The agency has also provided briefings to Inuit and territorial governments to help them assess the security risks linked to foreign business and research partnerships.