Global attention increasingly turns to the Arctic, the United States faces mounting pressure to address the ambitions of China and Russia in this strategically vital region. Although the general public may not fully grasp the Arctic’s significance, military experts warn that the U.S. cannot afford to overlook the area, especially considering its implications for national security and global economic competition.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, a seasoned military strategist, emphasized the critical importance of the Arctic. “That whole area … it does have, in a purely military context, it has importance,” Montgomery noted, highlighting both the military and economic value of the region.
The Arctic’s economic significance is particularly evident in the context of global trade. China, which heavily depends on the secure transportation of oil and natural gas, is acutely aware of the strategic chokepoints in global trade routes, such as the Straits of Malacca. In response, China has been actively exploring alternative routes, including the Northern Sea Route (NSR) along Russia’s northern coast, to bypass potential U.S. disruptions and secure its energy supply lines.
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The strategic importance of the Arctic was underscored by a recent incident involving Russian and Chinese bombers near Alaska. Shortly after President Biden announced he would not seek a second term, U.S. and Canadian fighter jets intercepted and escorted these bombers out of the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This marked the first time Chinese bomber aircraft had ventured into the zone, raising concerns about the growing cooperation between Russia and China in the region.
U.S. Defense Secretary Gen. Lloyd Austin clarified that none of the bombers entered U.S. airspace, but their proximity to the Alaskan coast has heightened U.S. military concerns about the Arctic. The Pentagon has responded by publishing a policy plan identifying the Arctic as “critical to the defense of our homeland.” Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks emphasized the need to ensure the Arctic remains secure and stable, noting that climate change is fundamentally altering the region’s geopolitical landscape and U.S. defense missions associated with it.
China’s interest in the Arctic is part of a broader strategy that includes expanding its influence in contested regions like the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Despite not being an Arctic state, China seeks greater access and influence in the region, aiming for a more significant role in its governance. Hicks expressed concern that China is the only strategic competitor with the will and growing ability to reshape the international order.
Sovereignty claims in the Arctic could become increasingly contentious, with Russia likely to make aggressive assertions. Montgomery warned that Russia seems determined to assert control over the Arctic, including the North Pole, as if other countries’ claims were irrelevant. The Northern Sea Route, which offers significant economic advantages, is a focal point in this competition.
Russia’s attempts to use the Lomonosov Ridge to establish a claim over the Arctic, along with similar efforts by Denmark (via Greenland) and Canada, highlight the growing international dispute over the region. According to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, the country that successfully establishes its claim would gain an exclusive economic zone extending 200 miles from its coast, granting rights to fishing, infrastructure development, and resource extraction.
As commercial interest in the Arctic grows, with over two million tons of “transit cargo” shipped through the region in 2023, expanding operations will require significant investment in infrastructure. This includes improving satellite coverage, GPS systems, and communications networks.
The U.S. now faces the dual challenges of maintaining military readiness in the Arctic and addressing the geopolitical shifts driven by climate change. The future stability of the Arctic will depend on the U.S.’s ability to counter the growing influence of China and Russia while safeguarding its strategic interests.
