Sweden, May 23 -- Canada, along with six allied nations, pledged on Friday to increase their military presence and economic surveillance in the Arctic, citing rising geopolitical competition from Russia and China.

The joint statement, released by Global Affairs Canada on Friday following security meetings in Helsingborg, outlines plans to expand joint military training, surveillance infrastructure, and defence coordination.

The agreement marks an explicit shift toward Ottawa and its European allies taking on greater financial and strategic responsibility for securing the Arctic corridor.

The multinational coalition, which includes Canada, the United States, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kingdom of Denmark, pledged aligned s...