U.S. Arctic Security

Without action, America is putting its national security on the line, and we are going to miss the opportunities of the Arctic while watching other nations advance.#65533; -- Alaskan Lieutenant Governer Mead Treadwell The time to start shaping the U.S. Arctic security interests is now. The Arctic offers both commercial opportunity and security if it is successfully implemented into U.S. national policy objectives and strategy. With 90 billion barrels of oil throughout 400 oil fields, the region is destined to be bustling with exploration in the next ten years. Additionally, global warming trends and shrinking Arctic ice will open waterways and shorten commerce routes between the east and west to create a continuous flow of goods and people through the far north. The time to expand and create new infrastructure consistent with objectives is now. The hazards of waiting too long to fully engage could mean the U.S. loses the opportunity to shape the security, commerce, and environment for the future. It could also mean a much greater investment to achieve its objectives later. Arctic Council policy and governance discussions as well as joint military training exercises are a step in the right direction.