Pentagon announces new Arctic strategy as region becomes more contested

The Pentagon on Monday announced a new strategy to build up its presence in the Arctic region, which is becoming more contested militarily as climate change drives the melting of sea ice and opens up new passageways.

The Defense Department, pushing to counter Russia and China in the Arctic, outlined a new effort that includes a multi-pronged approach: investing in more Icebreaker ships, training forces for the Arctic, investing in regional bases and building out advanced technology for Arctic-based missions such as aircraft and communications infrastructure.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, in announcing the new strategy on Monday, said “this new Arctic strategy is an important step forward in ensuring that the Arctic remains stable and secure, now and into the future.”

“The strategic can quickly become tactical, ensuring that our troops have the training, the gear and the operating procedures for the unique arctic environment, [which] could be the difference between mission success and failure,” Hicks said at a press conference. “It is imperative that the joint force is equipped and trained with what they need to operate in the Arctic.”

The 2024 Department of Defense Arctic strategy, packaged into a 28-page report, comes a couple of weeks after the U.S. announced the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, a multibillion dollar and multiyear pact with Finland and Canada to build more Icebreaker ships that can navigate the region.

The U.S. has long worried it is falling behind Russia and China in the Arctic, especially as Beijing and Moscow conduct joint patrols and exercises in the region. Russia has some 40 Icebreakers, according to the Pentagon, while the U.S. Coast Guard only has two operating ones that are expected to soon reach the end of their life.

While the western security alliance NATO includes seven of eight Arctic states, Russia has the largest share of regional territory and the most developed military presence there, according to the Pentagon. Russia is also continuing to invest heavily in the Arctic and renovate its installations.

China has just three Icebreakers and is not an Arctic state. But it often conducts research there that the U.S. says is military related, and Beijing is seeking to promote the Arctic as a shared space while gaining access to the region through investments.

Hicks said that it was “very noticeable and concerning” regarding both Chinese and Russian activity in the Arctic.

The Defense Department plan focuses on a strategy to improve sensors, intelligence and information-sharing; engage with allies and partners to strengthen the U.S. presence; and launch more training and exercises in the Arctic to accustom troops to the cold and deploy new technology designed for the icy region.

That includes modernizing the network of radars and sensors under the command of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and investing in satellites to provide coverage of the Arctic.

The Pentagon also aims to invest in Arctic-specific manned aircraft and drones, along with investments in cold weather equipment and technology to enable troops to deploy in temperatures of minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Iris Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Arctic and global resilience, whose team crafted the new strategy, said they were looking at the “art of the possible” when it comes to building out new drones and aircraft, including research and development.

Ferguson said that while there have been other Arctic strategies in the past, the new plan is narrowing in on specific capabilities, such as communication infrastructure and equipment needs.

She added it will “lend some prioritization to resourcing in the region” and “provide the enabling capabilities for our joint force to effectively operate.”

“There’s been a slow evolution, not only in what these strategies say, but how the department is approaching implementing them,” she said. “Slowly over time, there’s been a bit of a greater awakening in the department, not only about our needs for homeland defense … but also that we can’t just show up to operate there. We’ve got to exercise their proficiency.”