Since 2009, the United States has progressively released strategic documents outlining the U.S. interests and national objectives in the Arctic. Although these documents recognize increasing interests of the United States in the region, they do not adequately address all the strategic risks at stake in the Arctic and do not provide clear guidance to the Department of Defense (DoD) for defensive lines of effort. The strategic approach of the United States to the Arctic is one of accepting the current stable and conflict free Arctic region as remaining the same in the future. This strategic approach is adequate for the near term; however, it lacks specific guidance to DoD on how to prepare for possible conflict in the future. Recent events involving Russia in the Ukraine and China in the South China Sea provide historical context to the willingness of nations to use military means to defend their national interests. Without adequate defensive posturing, competition over Arctic resources could become the first direct existential threat to U.S. sovereignty. This paper will provide a strategic assessment of the Arctic, from the Department of Defense perspective, and provide recommendations for the combatant commander to prepare defensive lines of effort, should they be needed in 10-15 years or beyond.
CHAPTER 1 * ARCTIC STRATEGIC ISSUES * Mineral and Resource Protection * Freedom of Navigation * Sea Lines of Communication * Arctic Militarization * Russia * China * CHAPTER 2 * U.S. ARCTIC STRATEGY * U.S. Arctic Region Policy and U.S. Arctic Strategy * U.S. National Military Strategy and Department of Defense Arctic Strategy * CHAPTER 3 * ARCTIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND CAPABILITIES * Unified Command Plan * USNORTHCOM * Alaska Command and Joint Task Force Alaska * U.S. Navy * U.S. Coast Guard * CHAPTER 4 * RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION * Command and Control * Exercise Sovereignty and Protect the Homeland/ Improve Arctic Domain Awareness * Preserve Freedom of the Seas in the Arctic * Evolve Arctic Infrastructure and Capabilities * Uphold Existing, and Seek to Expand, Agreements with Allies and Partners * Conclusion * BIBLIOGRAPHY
