by Johnny Franks, Warrior Editorial Fellow
For some time now, the strategic importance of the Arctic has been growing, heightened by the dual factors of climate change and political tensions. This, especially with Russia and China, has led the United States to focus on military capacities in the region to guard its interests and continue leading in maintaining stability. This is specifically warranted from the prospective of securing Arctic territories and waters, enhancing domain awareness, and being able to operate effectively in extreme conditions.
The Arctic region warms in two critical aspects: the real warming of the climate and the metaphorical increase in strategic competition. Climate change opens up previously inaccessible trade routes and areas to explore, at the same time as it causes new challenges and opportunities. This environmental transformation, combined with the assertive military presence of Russia and China’s growing interest in the Arctic, underlines the need to enhance U.S. military capabilities in this region.
Russia has been actively expanding its presence in the Arctic as it is opening new bases, holding extensive training exercises, and deploying more forces in the region. Russia also significantly outclasses the United States in polar icebreakers, with over 50 in operation as compared to the United States’ meager count. For its part, China is using its icebreakers to collect useful data on the Arctic’s environment and pushing for a bigger role in Arctic governance, despite not being one of the Arctic states.
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The strategic response of the U.S. military involves several key areas, which are to enhance communications, build infrastructure, improve training and equipment, and develop tactics tailored to the Arctic’s unique conditions. One of the most pressing needs is the acquisition and development of icebreakers. The U.S. Coast Guard has outlined plans to expand its fleet of polar icebreakers, although delivery timelines have been pushed back, showing how difficult it is to develop such complex ships.
Apart from icebreakers, the Navy’s operations beneath the ice exhibit the vitality of ensuring a strategic presence in the Arctic and other areas in which it is difficult to maneuver in light of the harsh and extreme environment. Forward Partnership with allied nations is also crucial to the U.S. strategy in the Arctic. Partnerships with Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Finland – and Denmark – are among those that aim at regional understanding, sharing of resources, and conducting joint training exercises. Such partnerships are indispensable in tackling the broad geographic and operational challenges of the Arctic, ranging from communication disabilities to the need for domain awareness and the ability to predict and navigate in a changing landscape of the region.
From this perspective, the duality of climate change and geopolitical competition in the Arctic must be met by a multifaceted approach from the United States. This is not only through significant investment in military capabilities and infrastructure but also a strong emphasis on international collaboration and innovation. As the Arctic continues to grow in strategic importance, the United States and its allies must remain vigilant and proactive in developing technologies and capabilities in ensuring security and stability in the region. This is especially relevant given the recent release of the National Defense Industrial Strategy, which in part aims to get advanced tech into the hands of warfighters sooner. Mastering the logistical, environmental, and operational challenges that make Arctic operations difficult must be a top priority for US policymakers in the months and years to come.
Johnny Franks holds an MA in U.S. Foreign Policy & National Security from American University and a BA in Diplomacy & World Affairs from Occidental College. With a specific interest in geopolitical security and military technology, Johnny has primarily focused his research and analysis on the Russia-Ukraine conflict from 2014 onwards. As part of his MA coursework, Johnny contributed to developing an Arctic defense strategy in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense
