Strong Foothold or on Thin Ice? US Strategies for Development, Environmental Stewardship, and Security in the Arctic

Abstract

‘In the Arctic a new ocean is opening before our eyes, promising access to resources and opportunities once thought impossible’, remarked Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger, as he discussed how these economic incentives are transforming maritime activity and impacting US Coast Guard operations in the region.¹ The acknowledgment that human activity will drastically intensify over the next decade as sea ice recedes prompted the US government to release in May 2013 the National Strategy for the Arctic Region in an effort to better position the United States to meet the challenges and emerging opportunities that lie ahead.² The need to ensure that maritime activity in the Arctic Ocean is conducted in a ‘safe, secure and environmentally responsible’ manner motivated the US Coast Guard to follow suit and articulate the strategic objectives for the service’s engagement in the region.³