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Arctic Security
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There is renewed attention on the Arctic region in this new
era of 'great power competion'. Both Russia and China are
increasing their involvement in Arctic affairs. The region has
become an area of competion due to the effects of global
warming. Climate change has opened up new navigation routes for
shipping, the fishing industry, and greater access to mineral
resources. In addition, the Arctic has an increased importance
as a region for military power projection.
Map of the Arctic Region, Central
Intelligence Agency, 2013
The Arctic region spans eight countries and three
continents. It is the home of four million people from several
different nations.
News Reports about Competition in the Arctic
August 16, 2024,
"Why US special operators training in the Arctic matters to
China", by Ryan Robertson, Straight Arrow News.
January 18, 2024,
"US Military Can't Sustain Arctic Operations, 'Let Alone
Dominate,' Experts Say", by Sonner Kehrt, The War
Horse.
December 20, 2023,
"Assessing China's and Russia's Arctic Ambitions", by Mercy
A. Kuo, The Diplomat.
June 4, 2023,
"Hiding an Army at the Top of the World", by Liam Denning,
Bloomberg. Article describes how SOF and the 11th
Airborne Division are preparing for war in the High North.
November 11, 2022,
"Combating the Gray Zone: Enhancing America's Artic Force
Posture", by Matthew Revels, Georgetown Security
Studies Review. The author advocates the building of
military installations and basing air defense assets further
north to protect U.S. interests in the region and to enhance
Arctic security.
October 26, 2022,
"Russian Aggression in Ukraine Boosts Arctic Security Concerns",
by John Grady, USNI News.
October 26, 2022,
"To deter Arctic agression, build the polar fleet we need",
by Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss), Defense News.
October 18, 2022,
"China and the 'Two Arctics'", by Marc Lanteigne, The
Diplomat. Many security observers see the Arctic as remote
from the conflicts around the world. However, some recent
events may change that. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the
joining of NATO by Sweden and Finland are new considerations.
October 17, 2022,
"Wrangling Warships: Russia's Proposed Law on Northern Sea
Route Navigation", Lawfare Blog.
October 11, 2022,
"DoD's Arctic Strategy and Global Resilience Office",
SOF News. The Defense Department has established an office
to ensure U.S. strategy and policy protects U.S. interests in
the high north.
August 2021.
"Send the Coast Guard into the Cold", Proceedings,
U.S. Naval Institute. A case is made for creating a U.S. Arctic
Command and letting a Coast Guard admiral lead it.
July 27, 2021.
"USAF to Increase Arctic Investment as Strategy, Wargames
Outline Needs in Region", by Brian W. Everstine, Air
Force Magazine.
July 14, 2021.
"Russia's 2021 National Security Strategy: Cool Change
Forecasted for the Polar Regions", by Elizabeth Buchanan,
RUSI. The latest national security document from
Russia signals a shift in its strategic priorities. A troubling
development.
June 11, 2021.
"The Phantom of Arctic Misgovernance", by Joshua
Tallis, War on the Rocks. This article examines the
governance and security institutions that provide for stability
and security in the Arctic region.
June 9, 2021.
"DOD Announces Center to Collaborate, Advanced Shared Interests
in Arctic Region", DoD News.
March 30, 2021. Partners, Competitors, or a Little of
Both?, by Jim Townsend and Andrea Kenall-Taylor, Center
for Naval Analysis (CNAS). Topics include the origins of great
power competition, Chinese and Russian priorities in the
Arctic, security implications, and recommendations for
Russia-China cooperation in the Arctic. PDF, 22 pages.
https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/partners-competitors-or-a-little-of-both
March 19, 2021.
"U.S. Army Arctic Strategy - 2021", SOF News. The
U.S. Army has announced its new Arctic strategy that outlines
how it will generate, train, organize, and equip its forces to
secure U.S. national interests and maintain regional stability.
Map of Arctic Waterways, Central
Intelligence Agency
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SOF and the Arctic
December 20, 2023,
"Into the Cold: Special Operations in the Arctic", by
Joshua C. Huminski and Ethan Brown, Wavell Room.
October 7, 2022,
"SOF and Arctic Security and Strategy", SOF News.
The September - October 2022 issue of the Journal of
Indo-Pacific Affairs has a series of articles about special
operations forces and the Arctic region.
April 10, 2022,
"SOCNORTH Increases Arctic Capabilities During Arctic Edge
2022", SOF News. SOF units from across the miitary
and other government agencies participated in an exercise to
expand interoperability and capabilities in the Arctic region.
July 24, 2021.
"Arctic Special Operations", by Brig. Gen. Shawn
Satterfield, Royal United Services Institute. A presentation by
the commander of Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH).
June 10, 2021.
"A Permanent Detachment of SOF in the American High North to
Answer Near-Peer Adversarsies' Modernization and Deployments",
by Zachary Lavengood, Modern War Institute at West
Point.
June 8, 2021.
"Competing in the Arctic Through Indigenous Group Engagement and Special Reconnaissance Activities", by Colonel Kevin D. Stringer, Modern War Institute at West Point.
Stringer provides a look at how US Army Special Forces can better compete with near-peer adversaries in the polar regions by concentrating on regular engagement with indigenous peoples
and focusing on special reconnaissance.
March 17, 2018.
"Arctic Edge 18 and SOCNORTH", SOF News. Special
Operations Command - North conducted an exercise that
encompassed long-range movements in severe weather conditions
over treacherous terrain.
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References
2024 Arctic Strategy, U.S. Department of Defense, July
2024, PDF, 28 pages.
https://media.defense.gov/2024/Jul/22/2003507411/-1/-1/0/DOD-ARCTIC-STRATEGY-2024.PDF
Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker)
Program, Congressional Research Service, CRS RL34391,
PDF, 72 pages.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL34391
Strategic Competition in the Arctic, Congressional
Research Service, CRS TE10084, July 18, 2023, PDF, 11 pages.
Statement of Ronald O'Rouke, specialist in naval affairs,
before the House Homeland Security Committee.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/TE/TE10084
The Russian Arctic Threat: Consequences of the Ukraine War,
by Colin Wall and Njord Wegge, Center for Strategic &
International Studies, January 2023.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/russian-arctic-threat-consequences-ukraine-war
Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, JIPA, Vol. 5, No. 5,
Air University Press, September-October 2022. PDF, 176 pages.
This issue of JIPA is devoted to Arctic security and the
agressive behavior of China and Russia at the top of the world.
Read the issue.
Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program.
Background and Issues for Congress, Congressional Research
Service, CRS RL34391, July 1, 2021.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL34391
Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress, Congressional Research Service, CRS R41153,
February 2021, PDF, 140 Pages.
Report to Congress: Department of Defense Arctic Strategy, Department of Defense, June 2019, PDF, 19 pages.
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Podcasts
April 23, 2021.
"Nordic Defense Policy and Arctic Security", Brussels
Sprouts, CNAS.
One hour long podcast featuring Svein Efjestad, Janne Kuusela,
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, and Jim Townsend.
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