In a sign of rising global tensions, the Royal Canadian Navy referenced the “renewal of great power competition” in its statement commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
“We pause with solemn reverence to honour the courage and sacrifice of the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Naval Reserve, the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Merchant Navy. As we contemplate a time of renewed great power competition and with a major land war underway in Europe, their legacy resonates now more than ever.”
Over 2,100 sailors, 1,700 merchant mariners, and 900 pilots lost their lives during the Battle of the Atlantic, a battle fought to ensure troops and supplies could make it to Europe. As noted by the RCN, “it was also a battle that came to Canadian waters as well with 23 ships sunk in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River.”
The RCN is right to link today’s destabilized world to the events of the Second World War. Historical memory and an acknowledgement of the seriousness of the moment are crucial.
As noted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, China is undertaking a historic military buildup, much of it focused on naval power:
“China’s rapid military buildup has left the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) poised to overtake the U.S. Navy in several measures of maritime might more quickly than sometimes assumed. If China continues to expand its fleet at the current pace and the United States does not revitalize its shipbuilding industry, China will grow increasingly likely to emerge victorious from interstate war, especially a prolonged great power war.”
Russia also continues to invest in arctic power, far outstripping Canada and our allies in the region. U.S. protection can no longer be assumed.
In this environment, Canada must rediscover the spirit our nation possessed during the Second World War. Through a massive military-industrial effort, Canada built a powerful navy that helped secure an Allied victory, and possessed the fourth largest navy in the world when the war concluded.
While a conventional build-up of that scale is unlikely, we can harness that spirit and match it to new technologies as I wrote about here.
Spencer Fernando
I stand for a Canada that defends itself, governs itself, builds boldly, and stands with its democratic friends. If you share this vision, you can support my work on Patreon for $8 a month, which gives you access to subscriber-only posts & the full archive.