Abstract:
The Arctic region is gaining increasing strategic importance due to its
economic potential, resource richness, and shifting geopolitical landscape. The
United States has recognized this significance and has established alliances
and partnerships with various countries in the region to enhance its positions
and interests. However, concerns exist regarding the limited understanding of
the complex dynamics and evolving relationships among the US Arctic allies.
The lack of comprehensive analysis and up-to-date information hinders the
understanding of their strategic documents, military exercises, and interactions
with global players like China and Russia. To address these concerns, our
objective was to identify, analyze, and assess the factors that strengthen or
weaken the interaction between US allies and partners in the Arctic region.
We conducted an analysis of national Arctic strategies, reports, publications,
and expert opinions from Western Arctic Council countries such as the USA,
Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We also examined
the reports and structures of the US defense services, interstate organizations
like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the North American
Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), as well as insights from leading experts
on Arctic aairs in allied countries. The study revealed several factors that
contribute to the strengthening of the US allies in the Arctic. These include
active military cooperation within the North Atlantic Alliance, joint exercises,
intelligence sharing, and the development of Arctic infrastructure to enhance
regional security and defense capabilities. However, we also identified factors
that weaken engagement among the US allies. These include dierences in
strategic goals, competing territorial claims, domestic political considerations,
and varying relationships with other Arctic stakeholders like Russia and China.
These factors can lead to tensions and challenges, which undermine collective
action and impede the achievement of common goals
