The United States is increasingly concerned about the evolving military collaboration between Russia and China in the Arctic, an area rich in resources and strategic potential as climate change accelerates the melting of polar ice. Newly appointed U.S. Arctic envoy Michael Sfraga, who assumed the role of ambassador-at-large for Arctic affairs last month, has highlighted a series of recent joint exercises by the two countries, describing their activity as “concerning signals” that are closely monitored by Washington.
Russia and China’s expanding cooperation in the Arctic has raised apprehensions within the U.S. administration, particularly given that the Arctic region has become increasingly accessible. The area, valued for its untapped resources and strategic location, has become the focus of heightened geopolitical interest, with China even asserting itself as a “near-Arctic” state. This self-designation has enabled China to justify its growing presence and ambition in the region, as demonstrated by its pursuit of a so-called “Polar Silk Road” — a shipping route that could potentially cut down maritime transit times and costs.
Heightened Military Activity in Strategic Waters
Recent joint military exercises between Russia and China have underpinned the concerns expressed by Sfraga. In a significant event this past July, Russian and Chinese bomber aircraft conducted flights off the coast of Alaska, marking one of the most notable demonstrations of their cooperative presence in the region. Additionally, Chinese and Russian coast guard vessels have been observed navigating the Bering Strait, an area where they conducted joint exercises as recently as October. While these activities took place in international waters, and thus were legally permissible, their proximity to U.S. territory has underscored the strategic implications of this partnership.
“This raises our radar, literally and figuratively,” Sfraga remarked, highlighting the operational and symbolic significance of these activities. The U.S., he stressed, is both vigilant and diligent in monitoring the “frequency and the complexity” of Russia-China military cooperation in the Arctic. The bomber flights near Alaska, in particular, prompted a close review by U.S. security agencies, given the implicit security concerns tied to such maneuvers.
Sfraga also noted the potential implications for U.S. allies, especially as the Bering Sea and Strait provide critical access routes between the North and South Pacific. In this regard, the activities conducted by China and Russia present a concern not only for the U.S. but also for other countries aligned with American interests in the Asia-Pacific region. The Pentagon, which earlier this year published a report on the geopolitical challenges in the Arctic, has likewise identified the Russia-China alignment as a growing concern that warrants ongoing scrutiny.
Strategic Objectives: The Quest for Resources and New Shipping Routes
Both Moscow and Beijing have distinct yet overlapping interests in the Arctic. For Russia, whose economy is heavily reliant on energy exports, the Arctic offers a means to strengthen economic ties with China, a primary buyer of Russian oil and gas. Amidst Western sanctions imposed due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia’s Arctic resources have become a lifeline to sustain its economy and retain geopolitical leverage. As global temperatures rise, the potential for new, shorter shipping routes has likewise spurred Moscow’s interests, allowing for the possibility of year-round navigable waters in the Northern Sea Route, which would facilitate more direct energy exports to Asia.
China’s interests, on the other hand, are largely motivated by a desire to reduce its reliance on existing maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Malacca, which serves as a critical chokepoint in its energy supply chain. With the Polar Silk Road initiative, China aims to establish a more resilient route for its energy imports, particularly from Russia, while also advancing its influence in the Arctic region. The resources within the Arctic, including untapped fossil fuels and valuable minerals, add a further layer of strategic appeal, as Beijing seeks to secure resource independence.
Sfraga cautioned that this convergence of interests between Russia and China is reshaping the Arctic’s strategic landscape, urging a reconsideration of the region’s significance within the broader framework of international security. “Alaska, the North American Arctic, is NATO’s western flank,” he pointed out, underscoring the need for the United States and its allies to heighten mutual defences and reinforce alliances that cover Arctic domains.
Rising Temperatures, Rising Stakes
The Arctic’s increasing accessibility, driven by receding ice levels, has made the region more navigable and brought its resource potential to the fore. Scientific estimates suggest that the Arctic may hold up to 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil reserves and about 30% of its undiscovered natural gas. Moreover, the region’s mineral wealth includes rare earth elements crucial to high-tech industries, which makes it even more appealing for industrial powers like China.
China’s designation of itself as a “near-Arctic” state is indicative of its ambitions to play a substantial role in the Arctic, despite the lack of territorial claims. While other Arctic states — including Canada, Norway, Denmark, and the United States — have remained sceptical of Beijing’s ambitions, China’s joint activities with Russia have allowed it to assert itself in the region without directly challenging the Arctic nations’ territorial jurisdictions.
For the U.S., this confluence of interests between Russia and China in the Arctic has intensified calls for greater diplomatic and military focus on the region. With the Arctic representing a critical juncture between North America, Asia, and Europe, any significant shifts in control or influence within the region could have substantial implications for global trade and energy markets.
Image source: worldwildlife.org
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