Again, I draw on other witnesses here and in the past and on one of the authors of the NORAD perpetuity report, Dr. Charron, who have emphasized the importance of the Arctic for Canada in many ways, including security. Witnesses, including National Defence witnesses before this committee, have noted that, in stark contrast with the breakdown in relations with respect to Ukraine, in the Arctic context, in the context of the Arctic Council, cooperation has continued apace with Russia. In fact, we've had very good cooperation and would definitely want it to continue.
It's interesting that on the Arctic front, we share some interests vis-à-vis the United States. The best example there is the Northwest Passage. The United States declares those waters to be international waters that they can pass through; Russia and Canada both take a different view of the international law on that. There is also the Ilulissat Declaration with respect to the Arctic, emphasizing that even in a military context, everything possible should be done to cooperate.
I think it is very much in our interest to continue along this track. I would again argue that participation in BMD, with very little to help our security, might in fact undermine that cooperation with Russia.