We are losing outright to Russia and China in the Arctic - members of the US Security Committee
The United States does not have sufficient forces to ensure national interests in the Arctic. Russia has a much more powerful fleet and military capabilities in this region, and China’s power is also growing.
This was discussed at a hearing in the Homeland Security Committee of the US House of Representatives, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
In particular, Russia has an order of magnitude more icebreakers that allow it to operate in the Arctic region, emphasized the head of the committee, Congressman Mark Green:
“Our geopolitical opponents recognize that control of the Arctic region is important. Russia, which has the largest territory and population in the Arctic, maintains a powerful military presence in the region. Russia has six icebreakers (actually six nuclear and twenty diesel - ed.). Currently, the United States has two of them (actually three diesel and not a single nuclear one - ed.). Russia's proximity to Alaska makes its connections and concentration of forces even more threatening. Mainland Russia is less than 60 miles from the west coast of Alaska...
What’s even worse is that the People’s Republic of China has absurdly declared itself almost an Arctic state and is trying to impose its will through diplomatic means of pressure and increasing sea transits of Chinese ships in Arctic waters. China is also expanding its icebreaker fleet, and its two existing icebreakers operate in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.”
Senator from Alaska and former Marine Dan Sullivan also spoke about the deplorable state of American capabilities in the Arctic.
“Safety in the Arctic is security in America. Despite this, we as a country do not have the proper capabilities to ensure our vital national interests in this region,” the American worried.
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