The United States and its allies seek to ramp up sensor deployment, patrols, and intelligence sharing to counter Russia and China in the Arctic region, as defence leaders emphasised during a high-level meeting this week.
The meeting, held in Keflavik, Iceland, brought together military chiefs from NATO allies with territory inside the Arctic Circle, including Canada, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. U.S. Air Force Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscored the need for collaboration to ensure the Arctic remains secure.
The U.S. Department of Defense attributed the region’s rising strategic importance to climate change, which has opened once-frozen sea lanes, enabling more Russian and Chinese military and commercial activity. A Pentagon statement explained, “Competition in the Arctic has grown exponentially in recent decades, due in part to the thawing of once ice-choked sea lanes brought on by a warming climate, further opening avenues of approach”. The changes have also made the Arctic more accessible for resource exploration, including energy and minerals.
It seems the reason was Russia-China joint exercises in the Bering Sea, which are viewed in the U.S. and NATO as a path for China to expand its influence in the region and get access to its resources. The editorial board of the Arctic Century covered this topic.
During the meeting, defence leaders also addressed the U.S. 2024 Arctic Strategy. The strategy calls for expanded exercises by allied military forces to counter Russia-China operations. As the press release notes Gen. Brown held separate talks with military leaders from Sweden and Norway, affirming the need for closer collaboration.
As Arctic waters continue to warm, the region's geopolitical importance will likely grow, prompting the U.S. and its allies to strengthen their defense posture.
Source: Stars and Stripes
Also read the publication:
The Future of Iceland's Coalition Government Remains Uncertain