The Arctic is a strategic crossroads where geography, resources, control, and politics converge. As countries consider navigable sea routes and interest peaks in sourcing critical minerals and other natural resources, nations around the world are sharpening their focus, both politically and militarily, on the region.
Successive U.S. administrations have long prioritized Arctic stability, historically turning to regional cooperation especially in light of our adversaries’ interest. In 2009, President George W. Bush formalized the first U.S. Arctic policy, emphasizing national security, environmental protection, and scientific cooperation and coordination with the multination Arctic Council. Established in 1996 as the primary forum for cooperation, the council is recognized today for its focus on pragmatic issues like maritime safety, resource management, and scientific cooperation.
The map sets the stage: Seven of the eight Arctic nations are NATO allies – Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. Russia is the eighth member, but after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the others paused involvement in projects that included Russia. That translated to 40% of council political dialogue and the end of project-based cooperation. Since then, however, there have been measured steps to manage coordination, including facilitating working-level activity and new projects, according to the council’s
In a time of fraught geopolitics, the United States and its allies can strengthen this framework – and the United States’ own position on responsible Arctic engagement – by working to ensure council cooperation remains focused on practical work. The council’s areas – including marine risk assessment, information on shipping activities, and biodiversity data and mapping – can benefit the United States, while not ceding ground to others. The United States can continue to align these efforts, ensuing that both military and civilian planning (and costs) are shared and prioritizing investments that build information, infrastructure, and access in coordination with NATO allies and partners.
In this most austere environment, military cooperation is also vital. In an environment where logistics and cost would challenge any single country, the United States can benefit from burden- and information-sharing for security, as well as joint planning, acquisition, and infrastructure investment to ensure faster, additional capability.
With Finland’s accession to NATO in 2023, joined by Sweden in 2024, NATO’s northern footprint is more contiguous, capable and positioned to operate across the High North. As a defensive alliance, NATO’s strength is a framework that anchors a stable Arctic.
In recent years, Russia has expanded its Arctic military presence, including by modernizing bases, air defenses and naval capabilities, while China remains active, investing in research while politically signaling long-term ambitions and potential shared goals with Russia.
Consistent NATO and partner political and military presence is critical, with the United States and its allies continuing coordinated and visible operations. Traditional joint exercises designed for Arctic conditions not only build needed skills for the High North and increased shared awareness, but serve as a visible deterrence across increasingly contested spaces.
The United States’ NATO allies are more than able to carry their weight as partners. From Norway’s operational experience in Arctic conditions to Canada’s eight Arctic bases, including the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited military base on Ellesmere Island, NATO allies bring expertise, presence and capabilities to deterrence.
Denmark, together with its autonomous territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, are procuring additional Arctic naval vessels. The United States, too, with Canada and Finland has launched the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE), focusing on the joint development of icebreakers.
For the United States itself, our partnership with Canada that enables NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command) safeguards air, ground, and marine territories across North America. Capabilities take years to build, and infrastructure – especially in Arctic conditions – takes longer. Right now, the United States benefits from decades of allied efforts.
Transparency and cooperation are key to maintaining the current political balance in the Arctic, with efforts cooperatively managed and trade routes explored, all while balancing our own justified national security interests. The Arctic has long been the domain of coordinated action, and the United States can lead that effort.
There is no question that the Arctic is becoming a theater in strategic competition, but safeguarding the Arctic is not about control. It is about shaping a region where competition is managed, risks are shared and cooperation is prioritized.
Working in lockstep with allies has traditionally been central to U.S. Arctic policy and is the right path to pursue to ensure that not only our own national security is safeguarded, but that the burden of Arctic security is shared.
