Experts say the US must increase its efforts in the Arctic as China and Russia consider forming an alliance in the region.
China and Russia Forge Arctic Alliance, Experts Warn US to Act
Experts are sounding the alarm on China’s growing influence in the Arctic, as it forms an alliance with Russia. They emphasize the need for the United States to take action to protect its interests before it’s too late.
“America cannot afford to fall behind,” said Luke Coffey, a senior fellow with the Hudson Institute.
Mr. Coffey recently testified before the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, highlighting the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the Arctic States Council.
The Arctic States Council
The Arctic States Council is a cooperative organization consisting of eight nations with a presence in the Arctic: the United States, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Canada, and Iceland.
The council primarily focuses on non-military and non-security issues. It operates by consensus and has approved three legally binding agreements related to search and rescue, marine oil pollution, and international scientific cooperation in the Arctic. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted the council’s operations, leading to a halt in cooperation until Norway assumed the chairmanship. China, with its vast fishing fleet and interest in untapped oil and natural gas reserves, sees the Arctic as a strategic opportunity. It has expressed a willingness to assist Russia in the region. “In 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that up to 13 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil reserves and almost one-third of the world’s undiscovered natural gas reserves are in the Arctic,” Mr. Coffey explained. Given the economic significance of the Arctic, it is crucial for the United States to safeguard its interests. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), subcommittee chairman, expressed concerns about China’s fishing practices, stating that they ”are raping the oceans.” He warned that China may seek access to the Arctic Ocean for commercial fishing. Mr. Coffey also highlighted China’s attempts to position itself as a ”near Arctic State,” a term he considers fabricated. Russia, on the other hand, aims to control the Northern Shipping Route (NSR) as an alternative to the Suez Canal. This route offers faster access to European and Asian ports. Russia hopes to charge fees for its use. To safeguard its interests in the Arctic, the United States must prioritize funding for the U.S. Coast Guard. Currently, the Coast Guard lacks sufficient resources, with only two outdated heavy icebreakers. Ronald O’Rourke, a naval specialist, emphasized the need for at least eight icebreakers, including three Polar Class heavy icebreakers, to effectively protect U.S. interests in the region.
Finland’s Foreign Minister Timo Soini (2nd L) welcomes participants attending the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council in Rovaniemi, Finland, on May 7, 2019. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)
(L-R) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attend the first day of the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023. The summit brought together NATO members and partner countries’ heads of state from July 11-12 to chart the alliance’s future, with Sweden’s application for membership and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine as major topics on the summit agenda. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
China’s Interest in the Arctic
A Chinese fishing boat, which landed on one of Japan’s Senkaku islands, sails into Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong on Nov. 13, 2013. Through a new system, China is militarizing its fishing ships. (Aaron Tam/AFP/Getty Images)
The Chinese research vessel and ice-breaker Xuelong, which will depart for the Arctic, arrives in Xiamen, south China’s Fujian Province, on June 27, 2010. The Arctic is a region much coveted by energy-hungry Beijing for its untapped oil and natural gas supplies. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
Protecting US Interests in the Arctic
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