After a string of military exercises in northern Canada and the United States in recent days, the Canadian military will conduct a NORAD-specific exercise this week aimed at strengthening the continent’s defence against a variety of threats, including those originating from Russia. The Arctic air defence operation, dubbed Operation NOBLE DEFENDER (NB), involves Canadian and U.S. personnel and equipment and stretches from the Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador, and also covers Alaska and areas off the coast of Greenland. “The security of our Arctic is not negotiable,” tweeted Defence Minister Anita Anand while announcing the operation on March 13. “What we’re looking to do is confirm our ability to respond to threat aircraft as well as cruise missile type threats that would come within the Canadian NORAD region,” Canadian NORAD Region Commander Major-General Eric Kenny told CBC News on March 14. The North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) exercise runs from March …