How US Northern Command is growing its presence in the Arctic

Arctic security is increasingly important. A new center in Alaska is helping advocate for homeland defense capabilities.

Defending the homeland is priority number one for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). USNORTHCOM is the U.S. Department of Defense’s designated advocate for Arctic capabilities. We know too well the Arctic is not only critical to the United States but is of growing importance to strategic competitors such as China and Russia. Russia has explored northern shipping routes, and China has begun to pursue resource surveys. Both nations have also increased military rehearsals to defend their Arctic activities.