The US Army is actively ramping up preparations for potential conflicts in cold climates, aiming to counteract Russia and China’s growing presence in the Arctic, reports Business Insider, an American publication.
According to the article, heightened attention to Arctic warfare readiness signals the US’s deepening concerns over Russia and China’s activities in the region. This shift in focus has prompted the development of a new strategy by the American military for combat operations in cold climates. Notably, February witnessed large-scale exercises in Alaska, geared towards acclimatizing US soldiers to the harsh Arctic conditions.
The article highlights the decline in the US military’s Arctic capabilities following the end of the Cold War and the subsequent engagements in the Middle East. In response, the Pentagon is now striving to bolster its visibility in the Arctic and foster collaboration with key allies like Canada and Denmark. Ultimately, Washington aims to assert its influence in the region, positioning itself against Russian and Chinese interests.
“There’s a desire among US military planners to flex their muscles in the Arctic,” the journalists caution.
This renewed focus on Arctic operations aligns with recent remarks from Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Gerasimov previously underscored Western nations’ increasing military presence in the Arctic and the development of military infrastructure in the region. In contrast, Russia’s deployments in the Arctic are framed as measures to safeguard economic interests, particularly in terms of ensuring navigation along the Northern Sea Route and advancing projects in resource exploration and extraction.
