In a rare display of unity, both Democrats and Republicans in Washington are expressing shared apprehensions about China and Russia making strategic moves in the Arctic. The focus of these concerns lies several thousand miles north of the U.S.-Canada border, off the Alaskan coast, where Chinese and Russian entities are actively seeking to expand their maritime influence in the Arctic, an area that has been somewhat overlooked until now.
Representative Bennie Thompson, the leading Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, emphasized the increasing importance of the Arctic to homeland security. In prepared remarks for a November 29 hearing, Thompson stated, “With climate change, Arctic waters are increasingly open to maritime activity like shipping, energy exploration, fishing, and tourism.” He went on to highlight the worrying trend of Russia and China attempting to gain a strategic advantage in the region, asserting that the U.S. must be prepared to protect its interests.
The U.S. Coast Guard, a branch under the Department of Homeland Security, has been at the forefront of maintaining a U.S. presence in the Arctic. However, concerns are mounting among lawmakers regarding the nation’s ability to compete with the rapid advancements made by China and Russia in the region.
House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee, expressed concerns about the rich natural resources, crucial shipping routes, and fishing waters in the Arctic becoming a geopolitical flashpoint. He raised alarms about China’s attempt to stake out interests in Arctic affairs, despite not having sovereign territory in the region. Green also noted that the Russian mainland is merely 60 miles from Alaska.
While the Biden administration released the National Strategy for the Arctic Region last year, emphasizing security, climate change mitigation, and collaboration with indigenous communities, both parties agree on the need for a heightened U.S. Coast Guard presence in the northern waters. Lawmakers suggest that adding more “icebreaker” ships to the Coast Guard’s fleet is essential, especially given the outdated state of the current icebreaker, which is over half a century old.
The Arctic is witnessing a surge in importance due to the recession of sea ice, allowing for increased accessibility along major shipping routes such as the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage. Research from the Arctic Institute indicates that this trend is making Alaska even more strategically vital for the United States.
As the competition for control in the Arctic intensifies, lawmakers are calling for urgent action to ensure that the U.S. can effectively assert its interests in this critical region.