US Military Arctic Strategy

[bobbymike]

Pentagon Issues First Arctic Strategy

The Pentagon issued its first Arctic strategy, laying out how the US military will work to promote security, stewardship, and international cooperation in the region. "This strategy identifies the department's desired end-state for the Arctic: a secure and stable region where US national interests are safeguarded, the US homeland is protected, and nations work cooperatively to address challenges," reads the executive summary of the document, which DOD released on Nov. 22. The strategy, based on the Obama Administration's broader 2013 National Strategy for the Arctic Region, notes that "the Arctic is at a strategic inflection point as its ice cap is diminishing more rapidly than projected and human activity, driven by economic opportunity . . . is increasing in response to the growing accessibility." These developments "present a compelling opportunity" for DOD to work with allies and partners to promote human and environmental security there, states the summary. "It is the responsibility of every Arctic nation—and all nations who have interests there—to work together to build a peaceful and secure region," said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in a Nov. 22 speech in Halifax, Canada, introducing the strategy. (Arctic Strategy; caution, large-sized file.) (Hagel transcript)

 

[Grey Havoc]

Time to create a new quad for the Arctic Pacific to counter China and Russia - Breaking Defense

The US and Canada should turn to Japan and South Korea, two pivotal treaty allies with strategic interests and unique capabilities that could bolster Arctic security, according to analysts Chan Mo Ku and Jinwan Park.

breakingdefense.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Canadian shipyard in talks to buy US shipbuilder amid trade war talk

Quebec-based Davie looks to play a prominent role in a US-Canadian-Finnish agreement to jointly build new icebreakers.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Australia's 'biggest defence export' was meant for the US first, but Canada snuck past Trump

For months, senior officials have been discussing exporting Australia's world-leading JORN radar technology to the United States, but after Donald Trump's return to the White House, Canada saw an opportunity and leapt.

www.abc.net.au

Canada's new leader announces Australian radar purchase while visiting edge of Arctic Circle

Canada's new leader has announced a radar purchase from Australia and an expansion of military operations in the Arctic while visiting Canada’s far north in an effort to assert sovereignty over the increasingly contested region

abcnews.go.com

Regards,

 

[Flyaway]

Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, announced a C$6bn (£3.2bn) deal with Australia to develop a military radar system in the Arctic capable of detecting hypersonic missiles amid increasing security threats from the Donald Trumpadministration.

Mr Carney warned that Canada’s adversaries were “increasingly emboldened” while its closest ally, the US, was shifting priorities.

Canada strikes Arctic deal with Australia as it shifts away from US reliance

New Canadian prime minister announces mega spending plan to assert sovereignty over Arctic

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Apophenia]

Re: reply #3, no-one at Davie seems to have twigged that ICE Pact is dead in the water. Still, there's nothing to stop Davie from shopping their Polar Max heavy icebreaker design to the USCG.

Well, nothing other than the potential loss of a CAD 3.25 billion contract in hand (is it dog and bone reflection time?). Oh ... and a much reduced chance of any further Ottawa bail-outs when Davie goes bankrupt for the nth time.

 

[Grey Havoc]

NATO should break the ice on unmanned systems for icebreakers

Opinion: Opinion: New icebreakers designed to deploy and service uncrewed systems would bolster a credible Arctic defense.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Trump's Finnish Icebreaker Identified as the 32-Year-Old Fennica

When President Donald Trump revealed that he is in negotiations with Finland's president to buy an "old" icebreaker, many observers assumed that...

maritime-executive.com

When President Donald Trump revealed that he is in negotiations with Finland's president to buy an "old" icebreaker, many observers assumed that he was considering the powerful and capable Polaris. It turns out that Polaris is not for sale, and the vessel under discussion is actually the 32-year-old Fennica - a well-known icebreaker that has worked previously off Alaska and has transited the Northern Sea Route. However, Fennica is six years older than the Coast Guard's own USCGC Healy, the aging medium icebreaker that the service wants to augment with another hull.

Fennica was delivered in 1993 for the Finnish Maritime Administration. Fitted with two azimuthing thrusters and four engines developing up to 28,000 horsepower, she is capable of breaking 30 inches of ice at nine knots, and can continuously break ice up to six feet thick without ramming. With a long open back deck, Fennica can carry up to 4,800 dwt worth of cargo and supplies. Her hull form is specially adapted for better seakeeping and less snap rolling than traditional icebreakers (known for a lack of seakindliness in open ocean).

As a working vessel, Fennica has a moderately successful history in the offshore sector, aided by her OSV-style layout and a massive 230 tonnes of bollard pull for rig repositioning. She has an endurance of about 45-65 days at sea, and can hold position in DP mode. However, her commercial prospects have been limited by her higher fuel consumption compared to conventional, non-icebreaking offshore service vessels.

According to Finnish outlet IS, U.S. officials are still in talks with their Finnish counterparts over the terms of a lease or purchase agreement for Fennica. As part of a package deal, the United States would also order two new icebreakers that would be built in Finland, according to the outlet.

Finnish employment minister Reko-Antti Suojanen told IS that the sale of the newer Polaris is not up for discussion.

Any acquisition plan for Fennica would require a budget appropriation from Congress; a used icebreaker acquisition is not currently in the White House's budget request, nor in the reconciliation bill currently before the Senate.

 

[Grey Havoc]

On a tangent:

US vendors tussle over Norway’s maritime-surveillance drone business

Northrop Grumman and General Atomics are vying for a deal, as U.S. manufacturers fear losing prominence in Europe.

www.defensenews.com

MILAN — Competition is heating up for Norway’s envisioned Arctic-capable, long-range maritime drones, as two American manufacturers have entered the race.

As part of the 2025-2036 Norwegian Defense Pledge, Oslo has committed to acquiring new unmanned aerial systems to be stationed at the Andøya Air Station, some 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Norwegian Ministry of Defense contacted U.S.-based manufacturers including Northrop Grumman and General Atomics with a request for information.

A General Atomics spokesman told Defense News in March that the company had already responded to the solicitation pitching its MQ-9B SeaGuardian, while Northrop Grumman officials have said they are offering the MQ-4C Triton.

Meanwhile, a Norwegian defense official said the drone project remains at a concept stage.

“At this stage, Forsvarsmateriell (NDMA) is working closely with the Norwegian Air Force to support a concept selection study – because we are still defining requirements and evaluating operational needs, no flight tests have been scheduled and no final decision point has been set,” Brigadier General Jarle Nergård, director of NDMA Air Systems Division said.

Still, competition for the prospective business has drawn out direct comparisons among the American vendors.

[snip]

 

[Grey Havoc]

Map shows where Chinese ships have been detected off Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard told Newsweek that it remains ready to respond to adversaries operating in and around Alaskan and U.S. Arctic waters.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

China Has an Arctic Strategy. America Needs One, Too | Opinion

The stakes are massive because the region is strategically vital for a range of military, economic, and geopolitical reasons.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Davie Defense Comments on its Planned $1 Billion “American Icebreaker Factory” - Naval News

Davie Defense, a shipbuilder with two centuries of experience, plans to build a new shipyard in the United States’ Gulf Coast for its new “Arctic Security Cutters” design intended for the U.S. Coast Guard if awarded an icebreaker contract.

www.navalnews.com

Davie Defense, a shipbuilder with two centuries of experience, plans to build a new shipyard in the United States’ Gulf Coast for its new “Arctic Security Cutters” design intended for the U.S. Coast Guard if awarded an icebreaker contract. Naval News has reached out the Davie Defense for more information.


The United States Coast Guard (USCG) intends to expand its very small icebreaker fleet, currently consisting of just three active icebreakers, the heavy Antarctic icebreaker Polar Star, and the medium Arctic icebreakers, Healy and Storis. Polar Star and Healy have been in service for decades, and Storis was recently acquired in November 2024 from a corporate company (was previously named M/V Aiviq) and converted by the USCG to join the Arctic icebreaker fleet in August 2025 as WAGB 21. Davie Defense is already involved in building new Canadian icebreakers: 3 medium icebreakers, 6 Program Icebreakers, and one large Polar Icebreaker.


Davie Defense, along with partnerships with Pearlson & Pearlson in Florida and Finland’s Helsinki Shipyard, intends to construct its “American Icebreaker Factory” in Gulf Copper shipyards located in Galveston, Texas; and if all goes to plan, the first Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) icebreakers will be ready to sail after 26 months of construction. Pearlson & Pearlson has collaborations with BAE Systems, Austal USA and Fincantieri Marinette as project leader.

[snip]

 

[Grey Havoc]

Can an Interagency Task Force Work in the Arctic? | Center for International Maritime Security

By Jeffrey Kucik and Veronica De Allende An increasingly accessible Arctic raises questions about U.S. responsibilities in the region. There are two core challenges. First, Russia’s (re)militarization of its Arctic coastline, coupled with growing Chinese activity—often enabled by Moscow—signals...

cimsec.org

 

[Grey Havoc]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/01/us-begins-secret-talks-for-new-military-bases-in-greenland/

The United States has begun talks with Denmark to increase its military presence in Greenland, in a deal that would fall short of its previous threats to conquer the island.

Washington is seeking access to three bases, including two abandoned former US military bases, to set up airfields and ports, according to a senior general.

It would be the first US military expansion on Greenland in decades, but it would not measure up to Donald Trump’s previous ambitions of taking over the Arctic island or establishing US sovereign bases.

The talks are being held under a 1951 defence pact between Denmark and the United States that allows the latter to build and expand military sites in Greenland, a Danish overseas territory.

Pituffik Space Base is currently the sole US military base in Greenland, on its north-west coast. Operating since the 1951 US-Denmark treaty, it is central to the US early warning and missile defence as well as space surveillance.

Lt-Cdr Teresa C Meadows, a US Northern Command spokesman, said the US wished to expand bases near the southern town of Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq, in the western region.

The Danish government did not immediately comment on a New York Times report that cited a recent briefing by a US general to American legislators and a spokesman for the US military.

The Telegraph understands that ceding sovereignty of Greenland in any form is a red line for Denmark, which could have ruled out a US proposal earlier this year to allow Cyprus-style sovereign bases.

According to The New York Times, Gen Gregory Guillot, the head of US Northern Command, briefed US legislators in mid-March that the military was seeking “increased access to different bases across Greenland as we look at the increasing threat and the strategic importance of Greenland”.

He added: “I’m working with our department and others to try to develop more ports, more airfields, which leads to more options for our secretary and for the president, should we need them up in the Arctic.”

Asked whether Denmark or Greenland had resisted those plans, he said both had been “very supportive” as the talks had been taking place under the 1951 defence agreement.

While Denmark may be content with what seems to be a partial US retreat, Greenlanders are likely to be concerned by the plans to increase US military sites and the environmental risks that come with them.

Denmark, which colonised Greenland in the 1700s, was poised to defend the island from the US in January after Mr Trump threatened to take it by force, citing national security interests.

After a tense stand-off, the two Nato members agreed to hold talks that would address American security concerns, such as allowing the US to build up its military bases.

Mr Trump previously claimed he had to “get” Greenland because of concerns about the growing presence of China and Russia in the Arctic region.

In January, the president also claimed that Greenland specifically was “covered” with Russian and Chinese ships. Danish ministers, security experts and shipping traffic monitors all dismissed the claim as false.