The United States announced on Friday August 26 the creation of an ambassador post in charge of the Arctic, a sign of the importance they attach to this highly coveted strategic region in the face of competition from Russia and China. , and in the midst of a climate crisis.
“An Arctic region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous and cooperative is of strategic importance to the United States” especially for “fight climate change“, assures the deputy spokesman of the US State Department, Vedant Patel, in a press release announcing the creation of this position, which will have to be submitted to the Senate for approval.
Economic and military opportunities
Currently, a career diplomat, Jim DeHart, is the US Arctic coordinator. This announcement comes as a meeting of the Arctic Circle International Forum dedicated to Greenland is due to begin on Saturday. Earlier this year, seven of the eight member countries of the Arctic Council, including the United States, had suspended their participation when Russia took over the rotating presidency, in the midst of the war in Ukraine.
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The receding sea ice in the Arctic opens up significant economic and military opportunities thanks in particular to new maritime routes. Russia has also recently published a new naval doctrine in which it says it wants to strengthen its positions in the Arctic, both economically and militarily. The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet over the past 40 years, according to a recent study.
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