The Reemergence of the Arctic as a Strategic Location

Abstract

Abstract : This monograph analyzes the Arctic region as a system by examining the strengths and weaknesses of its political, military, economic, social, infrastructure, and information subsystems. The analysis reveals key nodes (critical people and things) and key linkages (critical relationships between the nodes). Key nodes include the ice itself, three of the Arctic states (Russian Federation, United States, and Canada), the European Union (EU), multinational oil and gas corporations, supra-national nongovernmental organizations, indigenous groups, the World Trade Organization, the internet, and trade among the Arctic states. Key linkages include the Arctic Council, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, the Nordic Council, the EU's Northern Dimension, the indigenous groups' councils, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) treaty. The analysis also reveals the system's potential. At this time, the Arctic could either become an area of conflict as the quest for resources drives states to clash, or an area of cooperation, with states securing their national interests within UNCLOS. The author uses the knowledge gained from examining the Arctic region as a system to determine what this means for the United States. She discusses the instruments of national power as applied to the Arctic system, with a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis for each instrument. The author concludes that it is critical for the United States to develop its vision, objectives, and policies regarding the Arctic region prior to 2012, when a majority of the Arctic coastal states will submit their UNCLOS claims.