As the world grows more dangerous, U.S. lawmakers are pressing to secure a region often overlooked — the Arctic.
With the Alaska Purchase in 1867, the U.S. became one of eight countries with territory above the Arctic Circle. Russia has the largest presence, and as its alliance with China strengthens, so does Beijing’s influence.
“We are in a new era of authoritarian aggression led by Putin and Jinping. They are running hostile regimes that seek to control access to the Arctic region,” Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) said during a recent hearing on why the U.S. Arctic strategy is vital to homeland security.
In the summer of 2022, China and Russia deployed their first joint naval task force of seven ships into Alaskan waters. It happened again last summer with 11 ships.
“This is a sign of things to come. We not only need more Coast Guard assets but also a Navy presence back in Alaska. We need to be able to respond more rapidly in the future to these kinds of incursions,” Sullivan told lawmakers.
**Please sign up for CBN Newsletters to keep up to date with the news that matters most.***
With sea ice receding, experts warn Arctic routes are more accessible than
The remainder of this article is available in its entirety at CBN