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ARCTICSTRATEGIC OUTLOOKA PR I L 2 019
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USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 01

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Th e U n i t e d S tat e s
C o a s t G ua r d’s

Visionfor the Arctic Region
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Table of Contents

I.

Executive Summary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4

II.

Today’s Realities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8

III.

The United States Coast Guard in the Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

IV.

Ensuring Long-Term Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

V.

Line of Effort 1: Enhance Capability to Operate Effectively in a Dynamic Arctic  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

VI.

Line of Effort 2: Strengthen the Rules-Based Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

VII.

Line of Effort 3: Innovate and Adapt to Promote Resilience and Prosperity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

IX.

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 1

T
H
E
C
O
M
M
A
N
DA
N
T
of the United States Coast Guard

For over 150 years, Americans have counted on the U.S. Coast Guard to proudly uphold
American sovereignty, provide national security, and promote economic prosperity in the Arctic.
Our important work is even more relevant as the northern approach to North America gains geostrategic prominence. Access to the Arctic’s vast energy, mineral, fisheries, and other commercial
resources is growing at precisely the same time that global interests in these assets intensifies. The
Nation’s security demands in the region are both pressing and enduring. What was previously aregion of energy interest and challenge is now an increasingly competitive domain.
As the Nation’s primary maritime presence in the polar regions, the Coast Guard advances ournational interests through a unique blend of polar operational capability, regulatory authority,and international leadership across the full spectrum of maritime governance. The Coast Guard
will continue to work with our allies and partners on the mutual goal of ensuring a safe, secure,and cooperative Arctic, even as our aspiring near-peer competitors maneuver for strategic
advantage in the area. However, competition need not lead to conflict. The Coast Guard thrives
in situations that require nuanced responses to complex issues. Our persistent presence–on thewater, in communities, or in international forums–absolutely equals influence.
This Arctic Strategic Outlook reaffirms our commitment to American leadership in the region
through partnership, unity of effort, and continuous innovation. This document establishes
three lines of effort crucial to achieving long-term success: (1) Enhance capability to operate
effectively in a dynamic Arctic domain, (2) Strengthen the rules-based order, and (3) Innovate
and adapt to promote resilience and prosperity.
We understand the significant investment required to secure the Arctic, and we appreciate andembrace the trust the American people have placed in the U.S. Coast Guard. We will remain
vigilant in protecting our national interests in the polar regions to forestall the unchecked
influence of competitors.

Semper Paratus.
Admiral Karl L. Schultz

2 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

Arctic Region

STAT I ST I C S

The United States is an Arctic Nation, and as America’s maritime presence the Coast
Guard maintains an enduring responsibility for the national security and economic
prosperity of the Arctic.

ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE AMERICAN ARCTIC

1,000,000$3 Billion

90 Billion$1 Trillion

Square miles of
U.S. Territorial Waters
and Exclusive Economic
Zone in the Arctic.

Economic impact
of Alaska’s Arctic
seafood industry.

Barrels of undiscovered
oil reserves in the Arctic andan estimated 30 percentof the world’s undiscovered
natural gas.

Value of the Arctic’s rareearth minerals, such as zinc,nickel, and lead.

Copyright © Free Vector Maps.com

WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE 2013 ARCTIC STRATEGY?

614

Number of Chinese Arctic
expeditions. While not an
Arctic nation, China has madethe Arctic a strategic priority,
declaring themselves a“Near-Arctic State.”

Number of Russian icebreakers
built. Russia continues toinvest heavily in militaryfacilities, with 6 bases built
since 2013.

8

0 1 0 0 1

1 0 1 0 0

0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0

1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1

10 million

Tons of goods including gas, oil,grain, and coal, which transited theNorthern Sea Route in 2017.
40 percent of vessels carrying thesegoods originated from or weregoing to a Chinese port.

Member states of the Arctic
Coast Guard Forum, which the
U.S. formed in 2015 alongside
Canada, Denmark (Greenland),Finland, Iceland, Norway,
Russia, and Sweden.

1,700
People onboard CRYSTALSERENITY in 2016, thefirst large capacity cruise ship totransit the Northwest Passage.

USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

3

I.
Executive Summary

The United States is an Arctic Nation, and the United States Coast Guard has served as the lead federal
agency for homeland security, safety, and environmental stewardship in the Arctic region for over 150
years. Since Revenue Cutters first sailed to Alaska in 1867 to establish U.S. sovereignty, the Service’srole has expanded, including representing American interests as a leader in the international bodies
governing navigation, search and rescue, vessel safety, fisheries enforcement, and pollution response
across the entire Arctic. As the region continues to open and strategic competition drives more actors tolook to the Arctic for economic and geopolitical advantages, the demand for Coast Guard leadership andpresence will continue to grow.
Since the release of the Coast Guard Arctic Strategy in 2013, the resurgence of nation-state competition
has coincided with dramatic changes in the physical environment of the Arctic, which has elevated theregion’s prominence as a strategically competitive space. America’s two nearest-peer powers, Russia
and China, have both declared the region a national priority and made corresponding investments incapability and capacity to expand their influence in the region. Russia and China’s persistent challenges
to the rules-based international order around the globe cause concern of similar infringement to thecontinued peaceful stability of the Arctic region. As the only U.S. Service that combines both militaryand civil authorities, the Coast Guard is uniquely suited to address the interjurisdictional challenges
of today’s strategic environment by modeling acceptable behavior, building regional capacity, andstrengthening organizations that foster transparency and good governance across the Arctic.
The Arctic’s role in geostrategic competition is growing, in large part because reductions in permanent
sea ice have exposed coastal borders and facilitated increased human and economic activity. The
warming of the Arctic has led to longer and larger windows of reduced ice conditions. From 2006 to
2018, satellite imagery observed the 12 lowest Arctic ice extents on record.1 This has led to greater
access through Arctic shipping routes. While the near-term future of these routes is uncertain, a polarroute has the potential to reduce transit times of traditional shipping routes by up to two weeks. Russia’s
establishment of a Northern Sea Route Administration, along with the use of high ice-class Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) tankers built specifically to export natural gas from its Yamal LNG facility, havecontributed significantly to the increase in commercial shipping traffic in the Arctic. In addition,
opportunities for potential resource extraction and expanding Arctic tourism offer new prospects forsome of the Nation’s most isolated communities and broader benefits to America. However, changing
terrain and subsistence food patterns, as well as the impacts of increasingly frequent and intense winterstorms, continue to challenge the communities and increase risk in the maritime domain.
1 2018 Arctic Report Card, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, https://arctic.noaa.gov/Report-Card/
Report-Card-2018

4 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

The Coast Guard will adhere to the following principles as it manages these risks and seizes theopportunities created by these changes:
Partnership. The Arctic is an exceptional place that demands collaboration across nationalboundaries. The Coast Guard will partner with the Arctic Nations, as well as partners and allies
with Arctic interests, to contribute to keeping the Arctic a conflict-free region. The Service willcontinue to dedicate resources to forums, such as the Arctic Council, and to combined operations
and exercises to safeguard and secure the Arctic domain.

The unique and valuable relationship the Coast Guard has established with tribal entities builds
mutual trust and improves mission capacity and readiness. We will continue to incorporate
lessons-learned from engagements with Alaska Native communities, as well as industry and otherArctic residents, in the development and implementation of policy and strategy.
Unity of Effort. The Coast Guard will advance the Nation’s strategic goals and priorities in the
Arctic and exercise leadership across the Arctic community of federal, state, and local agencies.
As a military Service, the Coast Guard will strengthen interoperability with the Department of
Defense and complement the capabilities of the other military services to support the National
Security Strategy and the National Military Strategy.

U S C G A R C T I C ST R AT E G I C O U T L O O K 5

A Culture of Continuous Innovation. The Coast Guard cannot meet the challenges of tomorrow’s Arctic with today’s
paradigms. Rapid technological advancements within the maritime industry, combined with robust investments
by strategic competitors, have raised the stakes. The Service must take this opportunity to leverage transformativetechnology and lead the employment of innovative policies to solve complex problems.

While the strategic context has changed, Coast Guard missions in the Arctic are enduring. The Coast Guard will protect
the Nation’s vital interests by upholding the rules-based order in the maritime domain while cooperating to reduce conflictand risk. We will help safeguard the Nation’s Arctic communities, environment, and economy. The Service will pursue
these ends through three complementary lines of effort:

Line of Effort 1: Enhance Capability to Operate Effectively in a Dynamic Arctic

In order to prosecute its missions in the Arctic, the Coast Guard must fully understand and operate freely in this vastand unforgiving environment. Effective capability requires sufficient heavy icebreaking vessels, reliable high-latitudecommunications, and comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness. In order to respond to crises in the Arctic, our
Nation must also muster adequate personnel, aviation, and logistics resources in the region. The Coast Guard is the soleprovider and operator of the U.S. polar capable fleet but currently does not have the capability or capacity to assure accessin the high latitudes. Closing the gap requires persistent investment in capabilities and capacity for polar operations,
including the Polar Security Cutter. The Coast Guard will pursue this line of effort through three sub-objectives.
•••

Fill Gaps in the Coast Guard’s Arctic Operational Capability and Capacity
Establish Persistent Awareness and Understanding of the Arctic Domain
Close the Critical Communications Gap in the Arctic

Line of Effort 2: Strengthen the Rules-Based Order
Actions by strategic competitors will challenge the long-standing norms that have made the Arctic an area of peace andlow tension. The institutions contributing to a conflict-free Arctic will face new challenges requiring active and committed
American leadership. The Coast Guard is uniquely positioned to provide this leadership in the maritime domain. The Coast
Guard is dedicated to strengthening institutions–such as the Arctic Council, the Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF), and theInternational Maritime Organization (IMO)–and partnerships which reinforce the rules-based order and foster transparency.
Rules and norms endure when nations demonstrate a commitment to upholding them. Working closely with allies
and partners, the Coast Guard will deter threats to international maritime norms and America’s national interests byconducting operations and exercises along the full spectrum of competition. Working in partnership with the Departmentof Defense, the Coast Guard will continue to support to the Nation’s defense priorities in the Arctic. The Coast Guard
will work closely with joint and international partners to build capability and demonstrate resolve in the Arctic.
The Coast Guard will pursue this line of effort through two sub-objectives.
• Strengthen Partnerships and Lead International Forums• Counter Challenges to the International Rules-Based Order in the Maritime Domain

Line of Effort 3: Innovate and Adapt to Promote Resilience and Prosperity
The tyranny of distance and the harsh Arctic climate pose significant challenges to agencies charged with providing
maritime safety and security to all Americans, including the hundreds of villages and thousands of seasonal workers in the
U.S. Arctic. Search and rescue, law enforcement, marine safety, waterways management, and other Coast Guard missions
are complicated by the Arctic’s dynamic and remote operating environment. The Coast Guard will collaborate withstakeholders to develop new practices and technology to serve the maritime community and manage risk in the region.
6 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

As the Nation’s maritime first responder, the Coast Guard will lead and participate in planning and exercises that include
federal, state, tribal, local, international, non-governmental and industry partners to test preparedness and adaptability.
During a crisis in the Arctic’s maritime domain, the Service will lead an effective, unified response. The Coast Guard will
pursue this line of effort through three sub-objectives.
•••

Support Regional Resilience and Lead in Crisis Response
Address Emerging Demands in the Maritime Law Enforcement Mission
Advance and Modernize the Arctic Marine Transportation System

Conclusion. Increased accessibility and activity will create more demand for Coast Guard services in the Arctic
maritime domain. While long-term trends point to a more consistently navigable and competitive region, otherenvironmental and economic factors make it difficult to predict the scope and pace of change. Near-term variability
in the physical environment exposes mariners and communities to unpredictable levels of risk. As the region attracts
increasing attention from both partner and competitor states, America’s economic and security interests will become
even more closely tied to the Arctic. Each development is significant on its own, but in combination, these trends create
a new risk landscape for the Nation and the Coast Guard. This updated strategic outlook reflects a recognition of these
realities and outlines the Service’s lines of effort to succeed in the new Arctic.
U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 7

8 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O KII.
Today’s Realities

Since the release of the Coast Guard Arctic Strategy in 2013, the renewal of global strategiccompetition has coincided with dramatic changes in the physical environment of the Arctic. Theinteraction of these drivers has made the Arctic a strategically competitive space for the first time since
the end of the Cold War. Competition does not preclude cooperation, and the Coast Guard will always
look for opportunities to collaborate to solve complex issues. However, the Service must do so within
the context of the Nation’s national security interests.

The resurgence of nation-state competition has
coincided with dramatic changes in the physical environmentof the Arctic, which has elevated the Arctic's prominence
as a strategically competitive space.

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 9

Geostrategic Change
America’s competitors have shown a willingness to work within established frameworks when advantageous to them,but they are just as willing to work outside these frameworks to further their ambitions or spoil the interests of others.
China, a non-Arctic state, continues to expand its influence and seeks to gain strategic advantage around the world. China
has challenged international law in the East and South China Seas, built islands, and claimed territorial status to suit its
national interests. China’s pattern of behavior in the Indo-Pacific region and its disregard for international law are cause
for concern as its economic and scientific presence in the Arctic grows. In 2013, China gained observer status on the
Arctic Council. In recent years, China has declared itself a “near-Arctic” state and is pursuing a Polar Silk Road plan witha range of Arctic infrastructure activities to include ports, undersea cables, and airports. These plans are supported by
the construction of a second multi-mission ice-capable ship, the announcement that it will construct a nuclear-powered
icebreaker, annual deployments of research vessels into the Arctic, and investments in vulnerable communities. China’s
attempts to expand its influence could impede U.S. access and freedom of navigation in the Arctic as similar attempts havebeen made to impede U.S. access to the South China Sea.
Russia dominates the Arctic geography and possesses the corresponding dominant surface capability and infrastructure.
As an Arctic state, Russia has legitimate sovereign interests in the region, including navigation safety, search and rescue,and environmental protection. However, Russia has demonstrated a willingness to use its power globally to coerce othernations around the world in an effort to expand its sphere of influence. Additionally, the Russian government continues
to expand its icebreaker fleet, which is already the world’s largest. They are also rebuilding and expanding other Arctic
capabilities and infrastructure, including air bases, ports, weapons systems, troop deployments, domain awareness tools,
search and rescue resources, commercial hubs, and floating nuclear power plants. As a strategic competitor, the UnitedStates must take heed of Russia’s actions and potential dual-use of its capabilities. The U.S. Coast Guard and the RussianBorder Guard have a history of practical cooperation and should endeavor to maintain that collaboration within aframework of mutual respect for established international rules and national sovereignty.
U.S. allies and partners have demonstrated growing concern over the security implications of an open Arctic. In October
2018, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held its largest Arctic military exercise since the Cold War.
Designated TRIDENT JUNCTURE, this exercise involved more than 50,000 service members from 31 countries.
Demonstrating commitment to operational presence, Canada, Denmark, and Norway have made strategic investments

10 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

in ice-capable patrol ships charged with national or homeland security missions. While the United States is committed toengagement across a wide array of Arctic organizations, it is the only Arctic State that has not made similar investments in
ice-capable surface maritime security assets. This limits the ability of the Coast Guard, and the Nation, to credibly upholdsovereignty or respond to contingencies in the Arctic. It also diminishes America’s position as the partner of choice forallies and partner nations.

THE ARCTIC DEFINED
There are many definitions of the Arctic. Most international bodies and their members define the Arctic as the region northof the Arctic Circle (66.34’ North), which marks the southern limit of the zone in which there is at least one annual periodof 24 hours during which the sun does not set and one during which it does not rise. The term “high Arctic “is broadly used
to refer to the coldest portions of the region, generally that reside near the North Pole.
The official definition adopted by the United States government is described in Section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy
Act of 1984 as “all United States foreign territory north of the Arctic Circle and all United States territory north and westof the boundary formed by the Porcupine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; all contiguous seas, including the Arctic Ocean
and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and the Aleutian chain.”
The U.S. Arctic encompasses some 2,521 miles of shoreline, an international strait adjacent to the Russian Federation, and
647 miles of land border with Canada above the Arctic Circle. The U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Arctic contains
approximately 889,000 square miles of ocean. The closest Coast Guard Air Station to the Arctic is located in Kodiak, AK, approximately 820 nautical miles south of Utqiagvik, AK, which is nearly the same distance as from Boston, MA to Miami, FL.

USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 11

Environmental and Economic Change
The Arctic’s role in geostrategic competition is growing, in large part, because it is no longer “self-secured” by permanent
sea ice. The warming of the Arctic has led to longer and larger windows of reduced ice conditions. In 2018, Arctic sea ice
remained younger and thinner, and it covered less area than in the past. The twelve lowest summer minimums in Arctic ice
extents in the satellite record have occurred in the last 12 years.21
The near-term future of Arctic shipping routes is uncertain, but in optimal conditions they are significantly shorter compared totransits via the Straits of Malacca and the Suez Canal. For example, the Northern Sea Route (NSR) offers a 35-day mean transit
time from Shanghai to Rotterdam, shaving 2 weeks off the Suez/Malacca transit route. Commercial shipping through the Arctic
is growing, including a doubling of cargo tonnage transported on the NSR with significant shipments of natural gas and oil
products from the Yamal LNG terminal in Russia. The number of cruise ships, ranging in capacity from 150 to 1,700 passengers,
transiting the Arctic continues to rise dramatically, from 120 per year in 2008 to 290 in 2016. Commercial vessel traffic throughthe region will continue to grow. 3 2 These routes require access through the relatively narrow and shallow Bering Strait, increasing
the risk of a grounding or collision during peacetime and of the strait becoming a strategic choke point during times of conflict.
Greater access to the Arctic is also enabling expanded economic activity, including resource extraction, commercial fishing,
and tourism. Resource extraction of all kinds, ranging from mining rare-earth minerals to drilling for natural gas and oil, will
2 2018 Arctic Report Card, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, https://arctic.noaa.gov/Report-Card/Report-Card-2018
3 United States Coast Guard, “Preliminary Findings—Port Access Route Study: In the Chukchi Sea, Bering Strait, and Bering Sea” (2016),
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCG-2014-0941-0040

12 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOKU S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 13

become more commercially viable as the Arctic opens.43 The Arctic is also likely to be home to a wealth ofundiscovered resources, which will become more accessible as environmental conditions change. As sea watertemperatures rise, fish stocks are expected to continue to shift northward, creating potential new enforcement
challenges to the current international prohibition on commercial fishing in the central Arctic Ocean.
Arctic communities, including the Alaska Native and indigenous populations, will be on the front lines ofadapting to changes in the Arctic. Coastal and river erosion due to loss of sea ice, the movement of terrestrial
and marine subsistence food sources, and the impacts of increasingly frequent and intense winter storms
continue to erode the physical and social fabric of many communities. Local leaders have also reported
that the influx of illegal drugs into Arctic villages is overwhelming the limited healthcare and social services
infrastructure in many communities. As the Arctic becomes more accessible, increased activity fromindustry, tourism, and research will create complex challenges to community resilience and health.

Uncertainty and Risk
While long-term trends point to a more consistently navigable Arctic, other environmental factors make it
difficult to predict what the near-term conditions will be. Though the Arctic continues to lose increasing
amounts of multiyear sea ice, the remaining ice is becoming less predictable. For example, heavy packice conditions rendered the Northwest Passage impassible for cruise ships in 2018, despite it being one of
the warmest years on record. Interest in extracting natural resources in the Arctic will also wax and wanewith highly variable global supply and demand signals. While the exact nature of the activity may not be
predictable, the general trend of increased traffic will drive up demand for Coast Guard resources to manage
risks to maritime safety and security.
Each such development is significant on its own. But, in combination, these trends create a new risk landscapefor the Nation and the Coast Guard. The Arctic maritime domain will continue to open and increased activity
will create more demand for Coast Guard services. Near-term variability will result in a dynamic operating
environment that exposes mariners and Arctic communities to unpredictable levels of risk. Arctic security
requires leadership and cooperation across multiple national security areas of interest, including border security,
economic security, environmental security, food security, freedom of navigation, geopolitical stability, humansafety, national defense, natural resource protection, and assertion and protection of U.S. sovereign rights. As
the region attracts increasing attention from both partner and competitor states, the Arctic will become evenmore closely tied to the America’s economic and security interests. This updated strategic outlook reflects
recognition of these realities and outlines the Service’s lines of effort to succeed in the new Arctic.
4 The U.S. Geological Survey estimates the Arctic may contain approximately thirteen percent of the world’s undiscovered oil and almost a third of
its undiscovered natural gas. The Arctic is also thought to be home to a large amount of undiscovered resources which will become more accessible asenvironmental conditions change. Fact Sheet 2008-3049, United States Geologic Survey, https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3049/fs2008-3049.pdf
14 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

The Arctic maritime domain will continue to open and increased
activity will create more demand for Coast Guard services. Near-term
variability will result in a dynamic operating environment that exposes
mariners and Arctic communities to unpredictable levels of risk.

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 15

III.
The United States
Coast Guard in the Arctic

The United States is an Arctic Nation, and the Coast Guard has served as the lead Federal
agency for homeland security, safety, and environmental stewardship in the Arctic region forover 150 years. This responsibility has taken many forms, from treating epidemics on remote
Alaskan islands to enforcing fishing and whaling laws to capturing Nazi spies on the shores ofGreenland. Since Revenue Cutters first sailed to Alaska in 1867 to establish U.S. sovereignty, theCoast Guard’s role has expanded, including representing American interests as a leader in theinternational bodies governing navigation, search and rescue, vessel safety, fisheries enforcement,
and pollution response across the entire Arctic. As the region continues to open and strategiccompetition drives more actors to look to the Arctic for economic and geopolitical advantages,
the demand for Coast Guard leadership and presence will continue to grow.

16 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

The United States is an Arctic Nation, and the United States
Coast Guard has served as the lead Federal agency for homeland security, safety,
and environmental stewardshipin the Arctic region for over 150 years.
U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 17

The U.S. Coast Guard is uniquely suited to address the ambiguous challenges of today’s competitive world. In andaround the maritime domain, the Service is a valuable counterweight to tactics aimed to undermine the rules-basedorder. As the only U.S. Service that combines both military and civil authorities, the Coast Guard counters coercion anddisinformation by modeling acceptable behavior, building regional capacity, and strengthening organizations that fostertransparency and good governance across the Arctic.
In the region, growing commercial traffic, resource extraction, and Arctic tourism promise new opportunities for someof the Nation’s most isolated communities and broader benefits to all of America. This uptick in activity also leads toincreased risk, and the Coast Guard must manage such activity in close cooperation with federal, state, local, tribal,
academic, and industry partners. To respond to increased demand across the entire suite of Service missions, fromrescues to regulatory functions, the Coast Guard must build capacity and capabilities to access the most remote parts of
the Arctic domain.
The changing nature of the region poses particular risk to America’s Arctic residents. Communities are at risk fromincreasingly severe storms, the loss of traditional livelihoods, substance abuse, and crumbling physical and social

18 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

infrastructure, which translate to increased risk in the maritime domain. The Coast Guard has been part of life in many
Arctic communities for over 150 years as a neighbor, law enforcer, and life saver. Alaskan Natives have been partners andteachers, and we continue to benefit from their traditional wisdom and deep understanding of the Arctic domain. Thisis a proud part of the Service’s Arctic heritage that we will continue to foster through ongoing engagement with Native
communities.
While the operations may change, the missions are enduring. In accordance with the National Security Strategy, theDepartment of Homeland Security’s Goals and Priorities, the National Defense Strategy, and the National Strategy for
the Arctic Region, the Coast Guard will protect the Nation’s vital interests by upholding the rules-based order in themaritime domain while cooperating to reduce conflict and risk. We will help safeguard the Nation’s Arctic communities,
environment, and economy. The Service will pursue these ends through three complementary lines of effort:
1.
2.
3.

Enhance Capability to Operate Effectively in a Dynamic Arctic;
Strengthen the Rules-Based Order; and,Innovate and Adapt to Promote Resilience and Prosperity.

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 19

IV.
Ensuring Long Term SuccessThree underlying principals are vital to each line of effort and are preconditions for long-term
success. They will be incorporated into planning and decision-making at every level of the Service.
Partnership. The Arctic is an exceptional place. Its harsh terrain, encompassing the territoryof eight different countries, creates an environment that demands collaboration across nationalboundaries. U.S. interests are best served by working with the eight Arctic Nations to ensurecommon interests, such as maritime safety, environmental stewardship, and sovereignty. The Coast
Guard will partner with the Arctic nations, as well as partners and allies with Arctic interests, to keep
the Arctic a conflict-free region where international law and respect for sovereignty are upheld. The
Coast Guard will actively support and play a leadership role in multilateral organizations focusedon Arctic governance, such as the IMO, as well as the operationally-focused ACGF. The Service
will also continue to dedicate resources to cooperate with Arctic allies and partners, conducting
combined operations and exercises to safeguard and secure the Arctic domain.

The U.S. Coast Guard relies on close working relationships with its Canadian counterpartsin the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Transport Canada, and the

20 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

Canadian Coast Guard along a shared maritime and land border. These deep ties–ranging fromdaily operational coordination to cooperating on polar icebreaker design–are vital to the safety
and security of the Arctic.
The Coast Guard’s unique and valuable relationship with tribal entities builds mutual trust andimproves mission capacity and readiness. We will continue to incorporate lessons-learned fromengagements with Alaska Native communities, as well as industry and other Arctic residents,
in the development and implementation of policy and strategy. Alaska Natives, in particular,
have unique knowledge of the region that is of critical importance to those who work andoperate there. The Coast Guard will work closely with the Alaska Native community to better
understand and serve the region.
Unity of Effort. As the Coast Guard Strategic Plan 2018-2022 makes clear, unified effort is theprinciple of Coast Guard operations that guides the Service to partner closely across the joint
and interagency community, as well as with state and local governments, industry, and othernonprofit and academic organizations. The State of Alaska is a particularly vital partner in the
U.S. Arctic, and the Service will continue to partner closely with Alaska to manage risk in themaritime domain. At the federal level, the Coast Guard will continue to advocate for

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 21

and lead a unified approach to develop and execute national Arctic policy. The Coast Guard will advancethe Department of Homeland Security’s strategic goals and priorities as they apply to the Arctic, leading or
supporting partner components, as appropriate, to protect the U.S. maritime border and citizens living in
Arctic communities. The Coast Guard will continue exercising leadership across the Arctic community offederal, state, and local agencies.
As a military Service, the Coast Guard will strengthen interoperability with the Department of Defense tosupport the National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy and to complement the capacity andcapabilities of the other military services. The Service collaborates closely with U.S. Northern Command, U.S.
European Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to adapt to the Arctic’s evolving security environment.
A Culture of Continuous Innovation. The Service has an opportunity to develop innovative andtransformative technology and policy solutions to complex and emerging problems. With little legacy

22 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

The Coast Guard will continue exercising leadership across the
Arctic community of federal, state, and local agencies.

infrastructure, the Arctic is an ideal place for new ideas, policies, and technologies that will allow the Nation
to better measure, manage, and mitigate risk. Rapid technological advancements within the global maritime
industry, combined with robust investments by strategic competitors, make the need for innovation moreurgent than ever.
The Coast Guard has always been a creative, problem-solving organization. The Service must harness thatenergy in a deliberate and focused way to create solutions to the many complex challenges the Arctic poses.
The Service will pursue domestic and international opportunities to engage in shared or joint research efforts
that maximize the Nation’s return on its investments. This includes partnerships across the public andprivate sectors that serve to strengthen the national security innovation base. Innovation includes continued
operational research by the Service’s own Research and Development Program as well as with the Departmentof Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s network of Centers of Excellence and support
for academic institutions, such as the Center for Arctic Study and Policy (CASP) at the U.S. Coast Guard
Academy, to promote education, research, and policy innovation in the Arctic region.
U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 23

V.
Line of Effort 1: Enhance
Capability to Operate Effectively
in a Dynamic Arctic

In order to protect the Nation’s sovereign interests, fulfill obligations to the maritime
community, and uphold the rule of law in the Arctic, the Coast Guard must be able to fully
understand and operate freely in this vast and unforgiving environment. Over the past 15 years,
the Nation’s strategic competitors have invested heavily in Arctic-capable assets, infrastructure,and relationships, some of which are targeted at eroding the influence of America and the ruleof law. U.S. investments over that same period of time have been comparatively modest. This
has resulted in a strategic resource gap that threatens the Nation’s ability to effectively upholdsovereignty and the Coast Guard’s ability to manage maritime risks inherent in increased
human activity in the Arctic. Closing this gap requires persistent investment in capabilities
and capacity for polar operations.

The Coast Guard must be able to provide physical presence, at will, touphold sovereignty, carry out operational missions, promote freedom ofnavigation, and fulfill other national and international obligations.

24 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 25

Fill Gaps in the Coast Guard’s Arctic Operational Capability and Capacity
The Coast Guard must be able to provide physical presence, at will, to uphold sovereignty, carry out operational missions,promote freedom of navigation, and fulfill other national and international obligations. The Coast Guard is the soleprovider and operator of the U.S. polar capable fleet. This national fleet does not currently have the capability or capacity
necessary to assure access in the high latitudes. This shortfall limits the Coast Guard’s ability to proactively manage risks
in the Arctic maritime domain. It also threatens the Nation’s ability to respond to crises in the Arctic, ranging from oil
spills to contingency operations.
To fill this strategic gap, the Coast Guard will invest in ice-breaking ships, such as the Polar Security Cutter, aviation
assets, unmanned and/or autonomous systems, and personnel, all capable of operating in the austere and remote Arctic
environment. Assets must be upgradable and interoperable, capable of prosecuting an evolving portfolio of mission
activities ranging from search and rescue to defense operations to marine scientific research support.
The Coast Guard will enable those assets and people with robust operational mission support. Arctic operations pose
formidable logistical and technical challenges which will require innovation and effective partnerships to overcome. Any
solution will be a whole-of-government effort that includes a blend of permanent, seasonal, and expeditionary capability.
The Coast Guard must retool existing concepts of operation to maximize the impact of more capable assets and theService’s mission support enterprise during both surge and steady-state Arctic operations, including the growing role ofcyber and information operations. The Service will make integrated operations with joint service, interagency, and allied
partners a critical element of current and future strategic and operational plans.

26 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

Establish Persistent Awareness and Understanding of the Arctic Domain
To operate successfully in the Arctic, the Coast Guard must establish and maintain situational awareness andunderstanding across the region. In addition to fulfilling the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) responsibilities
outlined in the 2013 National Strategy for the Arctic Region, the Service will apply improved knowledge and analysis toplan, anticipate, and address operational risk, and to improve safety and security in the region.
MDA is the effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime domain that could impact safety,
security, prosperity, or the environment. Such awareness is especially critical in the Arctic region where harsh operating
conditions, coupled with severely limited resources, hamper the Coast Guard’s mission effectiveness. MDA is not a
mission or a program, but the product of a diverse set of capabilities that support all levels of decision making (strategic,
operational, and tactical).
The National Strategy for the Arctic Region Implementation Framework assigns responsibility for the Nation’s Arctic
awareness to the Coast Guard, with support from numerous other departments and agencies.51 The Service’s nationalawareness requirements include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
5

Information regarding national defense and security;
Information on vessel crew, passengers, and cargo carried (if applicable);
Pollution detection and tracking capabilities;
Weather and environmental observations, including ice reconnaissance;
Assessment of living marine resources activity; and,
Assessment of human activity and infrastructure.

Implementation Framework for the National Strategy for the Arctic Region, National Security Council, March 2016, Appendix A.

USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 27

The Coast Guard will continue to build Arctic awareness through both partnerships and organic investments intechnology. It will also continue to support scientific exploration, monitoring, and research to increase understandingof the changing Arctic environment, associated impacts, and emergent maritime threats. Partnerships will range from
regular exchanges with the Alaskan Native communities, which bring generations of experience and insight, to digital
information sharing agreements with international partners. Likewise, the Coast Guard will continue investing in its
robust partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Navy, National Science
Foundation, U.S. National Ice Center, and other organizations to collect Arctic data, analyze environmental conditions,and disseminate information through effective channels.
As a member of the National Intelligence Community (IC), the Coast Guard both contributes to and benefits from thecapabilities of IC partners. The Coast Guard must continue to improve data collection in the Arctic, including support
for the development of collection requirements for Arctic marine conditions, climate, maritime activity, and threats.
Ultimately, the Coast Guard must lead in converting this information into actionable and reliable knowledge that canbe distributed to all appropriate stakeholders. Increased availability of all-source intelligence collection and enhanced
understanding of maritime trends, threats, and challenges in the region will enable the Coast Guard to operate more
effectively, make more informed resource allocations, and enhance national security.
28 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOKClose the Critical Communications Gap in the Arctic
In order to operate effectively, maintain MDA, and share information across the maritime community, the Coast
Guard must overcome critical communications gaps in the Arctic. The high latitudes suffer from poor propagation ofradio signals, geomagnetic interference, scant landside infrastructure, and limited satellite coverage and bandwidth.
Some Arctic communities have cellular phone networks, but these are often constrained by limited coverage, capacity,and reliability.
Closing the communications gap is a whole-of-government challenge and will require intensive partnerships across theinteragency, industry, and the international community, as well as the State of Alaska and Alaska Native communities.
As commercial, recreational, and subsistence-based activities increase, the Coast Guard must also work cooperatively
to enhance communications with and between stakeholders.
North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, as well as its subordinate Alaskan
Command, are vital Coast Guard partners for current expeditionary operations and will be even more critical in
improving national communication infrastructure in the Arctic. The Coast Guard will consistently look for ways tosupport interagency and joint efforts to field more reliable communications solutions.
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 29

VI.
Line of Effort 2: Strengthen theRules-Based OrderAs sea ice recedes and Arctic activity increases, actions by strategic competitors will challenge the long-standing norms
that have kept the Arctic as an area of peace and low tension. The institutions contributing to a conflict-free Arctic will
face new challenges requiring active and committed American leadership. The U.S. Coast Guard is uniquely positioned toprovide this leadership in the maritime domain. The Service’s operations around the globe–ranging from marine inspectors
enforcing international safety standards in Singapore to cutters enforcing international sanctions in the Arabian Gulf–
represent the Nation’s larger commitment to the rule of law. By upholding and complying with the rules-based order in themaritime domain across the globe, the U.S. Coast Guard reinforces its commitment to those principles in the Arctic.

MODELING ACCEPTABLE MARITIME BEHAVIOR
The iconic angled racing stripes that mark the bow of every U.S. Coast Guard vessel, first adopted in 1967, are now recognizedaround the world. These stripes represent a global maritime security regime, which relies upon the rule of law, good governance,and respect for international laws and norms on the high seas. For more than 50 years, coast guards have maintained thisregime, and any inconsistent behavior undermines it. The U.S. Coast Guard is proudly a role model for professional maritime
behavior worldwide, alongside partner coast guards who uphold these peaceful and humanitarian values.

30 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 31

The U.S. Coast Guard is dedicated to strengthening
partners and institutions that foster transparency and upholda global order respectful of sovereignty and independence.

Strengthen Partnerships and Lead International Forums
A key element of the strategies of our competitors is to engage in activities that weaken the international order that
underpins a free and open maritime domain. They do so under a cloud of ambiguity that makes it difficult to mount aneffective or timely response to such activities. Clear and universally held norms, coupled with transparency, can dissipate
that cloud. The U.S. Coast Guard is dedicated to strengthening partners and institutions that foster transparency anduphold a global order respectful of sovereignty and independence.
The U.S. Coast Guard will continue to be a proactive leader in intergovernmental forums such as the Arctic Council.
The Council; comprised of the eight Arctic States, thirteen observer States, six Indigenous People’s organizations serving
as Permanent Participants, and twenty-six other governmental and non-governmental organizations, reflects an enduringcommitment to multilateral engagement on a wide range of Arctic issues. The Council has built practical collaborative
agreements that include: the 2011 Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the
Arctic, the 2013 Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic, the 2015
Framework Plan for Cooperation on Prevention of Oil Pollution from Petroleum and Maritime Activities in the Marine
Areas of the Arctic, and the 2017 Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation.

32 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOKThe Service will also continue to work through global bodies, such as the IMO, to represent U.S. interests and reducerisk in the Arctic. For example, the Coast Guard was instrumental in the IMO’s development and adoption of the Polar
Code, which established design, construction, equipment, operation, training, and environmental protection safety
standards for ships operating in the polar regions. The Service will observe customary international law, including key
principles reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention (Convention) relating to navigation and other traditional usesof the oceans. While the United States has not yet joined that Convention, the Coast Guard will continue to rely on its
legal framework to support mission execution.
In addition to international policy making bodies, the Coast Guard will continue to conduct combined operations with
its Arctic partners and invest in multilateral operational forums such as the ACGF. As a bridge between diplomacy andoperations, the ACGF strengthens important working relationships through sharing best practices, conducting exercises
and combined operations, and coordinating emergency response. The ACGF conducted its first live search and rescue
exercise, Arctic Guardian 2017, which highlighted the value of international cooperation in the Arctic.
Governance bodies not only do the practical work of creating standards, they also lay the groundwork for the trust that isvital to upholding a peacful rules-based order. Collaboration with these bodies reinforces the relationships and lines ofcommunication needed to inoculate members against revisionist activities by strategic competitors. The Coast Guard isdetermined to keep these forums vibrant and relevant now and in the years to come.

USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 33

Counter Challenges to the International Rules-Based
Order in the Maritime Domain
Rules and norms endure when nations demonstrate a commitment to upholding them. Working closely with allies
and partners, the Coast Guard will deter threats to international maritime norms and America’s national interests byconducting effective maritime operations and exercises along the full spectrum of competition.
Working in close partnership with U.S. Northern Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Indo-PacificCommand, the Coast Guard will continue to support to the Nation’s defense priorities in the Arctic and build defense
readiness through participation in Department of Defense and multilateral exercises in the region. The Coast Guard will
work closely with joint, interagency, and international partners to build capability and demonstrate resolve in the Arctic.
The Coast Guard’s contributions to upholding the rules-based order are also embedded in even its most routine
homeland security missions. For example, the Coast Guard’s persistent patrols of the Bering Sea counter illegal,
unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This enforcement activity counters threats to fish stocks vital to the Nation’s$6 billion-a-year industry and to the health of a delicate marine ecosystem. Simultaneously, fisheries enforcement
upholds national sovereignty. Operations to counter illegal incursions in U.S. waters take place below the level of armed
conflict, but are vital to maintaining a global order respectful of sovereignty and independence.
Benefits to a rules-based order are realized across the full complement of Coast Guard activities. Specifically, theCoast Guard delivers full spectrum maritime governance through its Prevention and Response model. The cadre of
professionals who enforce international standards, such as the IMO Polar Code, or bolster community resilience by
supporting state, local, and Alaska Native contingency planning and response are doing the daily, foundational workneeded to manage risk, uphold sovereignty, and counter coercion across the Arctic maritime domain. Through these
efforts, the Coast Guard and its partners are also building essential relationships and expertise that are key to theService’s success as a leader in crisis.
Alaska Natives are a critical layer of security in the Arctic. Based on generations of experience, they help close
information and operational gaps, driving down risk. In a variety of ways, secure and resilient local communities will beless vulnerable to coercive tactics demonstrated by strategic competitors. Maintaining and expanding the long-standing
relationships with critical stakeholders will contribute to long-term success across the full breadth of regional andnational security priorities.

34 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O KWorking closely with allies and partners, the U.S. Coast Guard will deter threats tointernational maritime norms and America’s national interests by conducting
effective maritime operations and exercises along the full spectrum of competition.

OPER ATION A RCTIC SHIELD
Coast Guard District Seventeen (D17) leads Operation ARCTIC SHIELD, a year-round planning andoperational endeavor which provides mobile and scalable presence in the Arctic domain in support of the
National and Coast Guard Arctic Strategies. Objectives include executing U.S. Coast Guard missions;enhancing maritime domain awareness and understanding; broadening partnerships; and building
preparedness, prevention, and response capabilities. By applying a risk-based approach and leveraging tribal,
community, and interagency partnerships, ARCTIC SHIELD integrates Coast Guard surface, aviation, andshore-side resources to conduct a broad range of search and rescue, law enforcement, marine safety, andother activities.
U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 35

36 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

VII.
Line of Effort 3: Innovate and Adapt
to Promote Resilience and Prosperity

The tyranny of distance and the harsh Arctic climate pose significant challenges to agencies charged with
providing maritime safety and security, including the hundreds of villages and thousands of seasonal worker
in the U.S. Arctic. The Coast Guard will use this challenge as an opportunity to develop new practices andtechnology to serve the maritime community and manage risk in the Arctic region. By collaborating andinnovating with Arctic stakeholders, the Coast Guard will protect the homeland and its citizens living inthis unique part of the United States; advance national interests; strengthen partnerships; and promote safe,
secure, and legal economic activity, including commercial transportation and resource development.

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 37

Support Regional Resilience and Lead in Crisis Response
Arctic communities face increasingly frequent and severe incidents due to changing climate andgrowing human activity. Increased commercial activity also raises the risk of pollution incidents
occurring in remote and environmentally-sensitive locations. This risk is compounded by the logisticaland technical difficulties of operating in the Arctic, which challenges the ability of the commercial
marine industry to meet the oil spill response planning requirements. As the Nation’s maritime first
responder, the Coast Guard will lead and participate in national-level planning and exercises that
include federal, state, tribal, local, international, and non-governmental partners to test preparedness
and adaptability. The Coast Guard also works with industry to address oil spill response shortfalls
and evaluate alternatives to the National Planning Criteria. This inclusive approach allows partners to

38 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

clearly define organizational roles, responsibilities, authorities, and resources. During a crisis in the
Arctic’s maritime domain, the Service will lead an effective, unified response.
Increased maritime activity, particularly in the Arctic’s unpredictable and harsh environment,
increases the risk that mariners will find themselves in distress at sea, often hours or days from theclosest response asset. As cruise ship and transpolar aviation traffic grows, so does the potential
need for mass rescue operations in remote and icy waters. The current state of response capabilities
make this one of the most challenging of all possible scenarios. The Coast Guard will continue tointensively work with international partners, the Department of Homeland Security, Departmentof Defense, State of Alaska, Alaska Native communities, industry, and local resources to close
operational and logistical gaps.

USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 39

Address Emerging Demands in the Arctic Maritime Law Enforcement Mission
The Coast Guard will continue to enforce applicable law in the Arctic, with an understanding that the character ofMaritime Law Enforcement in the region will continue to change over time. As migration patterns of the region’s living
marine resources and human activities evolve, the Service will adapt operations and activities commensurate with thecorresponding national security risks.
In the near-term, protecting living marine resources and preventing international IUU fishing will be the most significant
law enforcement missions in the region. Fish stocks are migrating higher into the Arctic, and Alaska Natives there are
already harvesting new species that have no name in their native languages. These changes will make enforcement ofexisting fisheries regulations and international agreements more difficult. The Coast Guard will continue to monitor andassess research and trends of migration patterns for both fish stocks and marine mammals to proactively address IUU
fishing incursions.
Security in the Arctic is also threatened by the expansion of other criminal elements into Alaska and the Arctic region.
Where appropriate, the Coast Guard will continue to work with international, federal, state, local, and tribal law
enforcement partners to counter crime in the Arctic, particularly regarding narcotics smuggling, illegal immigration, andother illicit activity. The Coast Guard will also work closely with other federal agencies as they expand their operational
footprint in the Arctic to protect the Nation’s northernmost border.

Advance and Modernize the Arctic Marine Transportation System
The Marine Transportation System (MTS) is the lifeblood of the Nation’s economy. The Coast Guard’s ability tomaintain a safe, secure, and efficient national MTS facilitates more than $5.4 trillion per year in economic activity,
supporting more than 30.8 million jobs. Increased maritime activity in the Arctic will create increased demand for the full
spectrum of Coast Guard authorities and capabilities to manage risk in the Arctic MTS. As geostrategic, environmental,
and economic conditions have the potential to make key routes through the Straits of Malacca and the Suez and Panama
Canals less predictable or affordable, sea lanes in the Arctic are poised to provide valuable alternatives between North
America, Europe, and Asia. This has powerful implications for both commerce and military mobility, and makes ensuring
an efficient MTS in the Arctic important to the Nation’s security and prosperity.
Increasing commercial shipping combined with emerging technologies and new methods for offshore natural resource
exploration, production, and transportation pose challenges and are risk aggravators for the Service. Replicating the
MTS that exists in the contiguous United States is not a viable option in the Arctic. The Service must complement its
existing MTS management tools with innovative policies
and technologies, developed in partnership with both the
public and private sectors.
The Coast Guard will combine legacy and nextgeneration capabilities to understand and manage theevolving risks to the Arctic MTS. By leveraging robust
governance models and deploying modern aids tonavigation and marine information systems, the Service
will support the comprehensive integration of the Arctic
into the Nation’s critically important MTS. This will
enable growth in commerce and contribute directly tothe strength, resilience, and prosperity of the Nation.
40 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOKIMPROV ED NAV IGATION SA FETY A ND EN V IRONMENTA L
PROTECTION IN A ND NEA R THE BER ING STR A IT
In 2017, the Coast Guard, led by D17 in Alaska, completed a Port Access Route Study (PARS) for the Chukchi Sea,
Bering Strait, and Bering Sea after working with a variety of stakeholders including the shipping and fishing industries,
Alaska Native organizations, environmental groups, and Federal, State, and local government experts. The Coast Guard
then used the PARS data to propose an improved navigational safety regime in the region. Submitted jointly by the U.S.
and Russia, in 2018 the IMO approved several two-way navigation routes and precautionary areas in the Bering Strait
and in the nearby waters off the coasts of eastern Siberia and western Alaska. The six two-way routes and six precautionary areas are the first internationally recognized ship routing measures the IMO has approved for polar waters. These
guidelines will improve navigational safety, while protecting breeding areas and nurseries vital to Arctic marine mammals, migratory bird populations, and the traditional way of life for Alaska Natives.
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 41

VIII.
Conclusion

The Coast Guard’s mission in the Arctic is enduring, but the strategic context has changed. In the intervening six years
since the promulgation of the 2013 Coast Guard Arctic Strategy, changes in regional geopolitical competition, economic
drivers, and the physical environment required the Coast Guard to take a fresh look at our existing missions, activities,
and strategic objectives in the Arctic. Similarly, our federal and international partners and competitors are revising their
Arctic strategic documents and investments as they react to the region’s evolving conditions. In recognition of America’s
needs in the modern Arctic, this updated strategic outlook updates the Service’s vision to ensure safe, secure, andenvironmentally responsible maritime activity with the following lines of effort:

Line of Effort 1: Enhance Capability to Operate Effectively in a
Dynamic Arctic
The Service has ample authorities and a robust network of strong and resilient partnerships, but there are critical gaps incapability and capacity that must be filled in order to uphold American sovereignty and deliver mission excellence.

Line of Effort 2: Strengthen the Rules-Based Order
The Coast Guard will lead institutions and cooperate with partners to promote rule of law and prevent malign influencein the Arctic.

Line of Effort 3: Innovate and Adapt to Promote Resilience and Prosperity
The Service will collaborate with partners and stakeholders to develop innovative ways to deliver mission-criticalservices, including search and rescue, incident management, law enforcement, and marine safety, to this remote region.

Way Ahead
Each line of effort depends on Partnership, Unity of Effort, and a Culture of Innovation to succeed. Partnershipand Unity of Effort, whether it is with NATO allies or with Alaska Native partners, are preconditions for success in thecomplex, modern Arctic domain. A Culture of Innovation will be needed to overcome not just the technical challenges,
but also the political and fiscal challenges to operating in the Arctic.
The Nation needs a modern, flexible, and innovative Coast Guard to meet the challenge of providing holistic security inthe novel and dynamic Arctic maritime domain. Since 1867, the Coast Guard has played a major role in protecting our
Nation’s interests in the Arctic and will continue to do so. As the Arctic changes, America’s Coast Guard will adapt andinnovate to be Always Ready for the missions to come.

42 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

The Coast Guard will lead institutions
and cooperate with partners to promote rule of law
and prevent malign influence in the Arctic.

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 43

The Nation needs a modern, flexible, innovative Coast Guard to meet the challenge

44 U S CG A R CT I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K

of providing holistic security in the novel and dynamic Arctic maritime domain.

U S CG A R C T I C ST R AT EG I C O U T L O O K 45

U.S. COA ST GUA R D H E A D QUA RT ER S
WA SH I N GTON, D.C.
O FFICE OF E M ERG I N G POL I C Y

CG-DCO-X

w w w.uscg.mil

46 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK