Alaska Coast Guard

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Pages: 5

The diplomatic instrument for engaging with foreign groups to advance the U.S. values, interests, and objectives in the Arctic sea-lanes poses great concern in the critical challenges to transverse safe navigation routes through Canada and American waters. For example, the lack of sea ice and icebreaker ships cause insufficient infrastructure to ensure safe navigation, conduct search and rescue missions, or coordinate pollution response. The ship icebreakers are the key components in hazardous waters as their primary purpose is to conduct maritime vessel assistance, escort duties through Arctic shipping and transit routes, perform search and rescue missions, and serve as command and control for local Arctic operations. In the case of Alaska, the sea ice is warming rapidly and is leading to a decrease in area habitability. The loss of sea ice causes flooding, oil spills, and erosion. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) utilizes one medium and heavy icebreaker for these missions. The USCG has no permanent presence in the Arctic and relies heavily on support from our allies in Canada, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden through the Arctic Council …show more content…
strategy in the Arctic is also to maintain peace and enduring freedom of navigation. For instance, the U.S. and Russian Arctic water territories are close in proximity and could become a likely conflict in near terms. One problem is that U.S. military presence is light in the Arctic region due to other global interests around the world. However, the countries of Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Russia have committed to increasing military presence in the region. Each country shares the same interest of maintaining economic relationships and freedom of navigation. The USCG and U.S. Navy would need to rely on adequate support from tribal leaders, industry, and multinational partners to assist in sustainment of Arctic maritime operations. Further stated in the “Critical Security Challenges in the