USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 01

UNITED STATES COA ST GUAR D

O O O O

ARCTIC

STRATEGIC OUTLOOK

A PR IL 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C.
O O O O

T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s 

C o a s t G u a r d ’ s 

Vision

for the Arctic Region

O O O O
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 1

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

VIII. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Table of Contents
2 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 a 

region 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 our 

national 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 the 

water, 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 and 

embrace 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
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A r c t i c R e g i o n 

STATISTICS

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. 

6 

Number of Chinese Arctic

expeditions. While not an 

Arctic nation, China has made 

the Arctic a strategic priority, 

declaring themselves a 

“Near-Arctic State.”

1,000,000

Square miles of 

U.S. Territorial Waters 

and Exclusive Economic 

Zone in the Arctic.

$3 Billion

Economic impact 

of Alaska’s Arctic 

seafood industry.

90 Billion

Barrels of undiscovered 

oil reserves in the Arctic and 

an estimated 30 percent 

of the world’s undiscovered 

natural gas.

$1 Trillion 

Value of the Arctic’s rare 

earth minerals, such as zinc, 

nickel, and lead.

Copyright © Free Vector Maps.com

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

0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0

14

Number of Russian icebreakers 

built. Russia continues to 

invest heavily in military 

facilities, with 6 bases built 

since 2013.

10 million

Tons of goods including gas, oil, 

grain, and coal, which transited the 

Northern Sea Route in 2017. 

40 percent of vessels carrying these 

goods originated from or were 

going to a Chinese port.

1,700

People onboard CRYSTAL 

SERENITY in 2016, the 

first large capacity cruise ship to 

transit the Northwest Passage.

8

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.

WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE 2013 ARCTIC STRATEGY?

ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE A MER ICAN ARCTIC
4 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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’s 

role 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 to 

look to the Arctic for economic and geopolitical advantages, the demand for Coast Guard leadership and 

presence 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 the 

region’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 in 

capability 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 the 

continued peaceful stability of the Arctic region. As the only U.S. Service that combines both military 

and 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, and 

strengthening 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 polar 

route 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, have 

contributed 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 for 

some 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 winter 

storms, 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
 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 5

The Coast Guard will adhere to the following principles as it manages these risks and seizes the 

opportunities created by these changes: 

Partnership. The Arctic is an exceptional place that demands collaboration across national 

boundaries. 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 will 

continue 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 other 

Arctic 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. 
6 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 transformative 

technology 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 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:

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 vast 

and unforgiving environment. Effective capability requires sufficient heavy icebreaking vessels, reliable high-latitude 

communications, 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 sole 

provider and operator of the U.S. polar capable fleet but currently does not have the capability or capacity to assure access 

in 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 and 

low 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 the 

International 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 by 

conducting operations and exercises along the full spectrum of competition. Working in partnership with the Department 

of 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 with 

stakeholders to develop new practices and technology to serve the maritime community and manage risk in the region.
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 7

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, other 

environmental 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. 
8 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 9

II.

Today’s Realities

Since the release of the Coast Guard Arctic Strategy in 2013, the renewal of global strategic 

competition has coincided with dramatic changes in the physical environment of the Arctic. The 

interaction 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 environment 

of the Arctic, which has elevated the Arctic's prominence 

as a strategically competitive space.
10 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 with 

a 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 have 

been 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 other 

nations 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 United 

States must take heed of Russia’s actions and potential dual-use of its capabilities. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Russian 

Border Guard have a history of practical cooperation and should endeavor to maintain that collaboration within a 

framework 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 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 11

THE ARCTIC DEFINED

There are many definitions of the Arctic. Most international bodies and their members define the Arctic as the region north 

of the Arctic Circle (66.34’ North), which marks the southern limit of the zone in which there is at least one annual period 

of 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 west 

of 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.

in ice-capable patrol ships charged with national or homeland security missions. While the United States is committed to 

engagement 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 uphold 

sovereignty or respond to contingencies in the Arctic. It also diminishes America’s position as the partner of choice for 

allies and partner nations.
12 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 to 

transits 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 through 

the 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
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 1 3
14 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

become more commercially viable as the Arctic opens.43 The Arctic is also likely to be home to a wealth of 

undiscovered resources, which will become more accessible as environmental conditions change. As sea water 

temperatures 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 of 

adapting 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 from 

industry, 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 pack 

ice 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 wane 

with 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 development is significant on its own. In combination, these trends create a new risk landscape for 

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, human 

safety, 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 even 

more 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 as 

environmental conditions change. Fact Sheet 2008-3049, United States Geologic Survey, https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3049/fs2008-3049.pdf
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 1 5

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.
16 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 for 

over 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 of 

Greenland. Since Revenue Cutters first sailed to Alaska in 1867 to establish U.S. sovereignty, the 

Coast Guard’s role 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 to look to the Arctic for economic and geopolitical advantages, 

the demand for Coast Guard leadership and presence will continue to grow.
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 1 7

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.
18 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

The U.S. Coast Guard is uniquely suited to address the ambiguous challenges of today’s competitive world. In and 

around the maritime domain, the Service is a valuable counterweight to tactics aimed to undermine the rules-based 

order. As the only U.S. Service that combines both military and civil authorities, the Coast Guard counters coercion and 

disinformation by modeling acceptable behavior, building regional capacity, and strengthening organizations that foster 

transparency and good governance across the Arctic. 

In the region, growing commercial traffic, resource extraction, and Arctic tourism promise new opportunities for some 

of the Nation’s most isolated communities and broader benefits to all of America. This uptick in activity also leads to 

increased 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, from 

rescues 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 from 

increasingly severe storms, the loss of traditional livelihoods, substance abuse, and crumbling physical and social 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 1 9

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 and 

teachers, and we continue to benefit from their traditional wisdom and deep understanding of the Arctic domain. This 

is 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, the 

Department 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 the 

maritime 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. Enhance Capability to Operate Effectively in a Dynamic Arctic;

2. Strengthen the Rules-Based Order; and,

3. Innovate and Adapt to Promote Resilience and Prosperity. 
20 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

IV.

Ensuring Long Term Success 

Three 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 territory 

of eight different countries, creates an environment that demands collaboration across national 

boundaries. U.S. interests are best served by working with the eight Arctic Nations to ensure 

common 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 focused 

on 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 counterparts 

in the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Transport Canada, and the 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 2 1

Canadian Coast Guard along a shared maritime and land border. These deep ties–ranging from 

daily 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 and 

improves mission capacity and readiness. We will continue to incorporate lessons-learned from 

engagements 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 and 

operate 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 the 

principle 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 other 

nonprofit 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 the 

maritime domain. At the federal level, the Coast Guard will continue to advocate for 
22 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

and lead a unified approach to develop and execute national Arctic policy. The Coast Guard will advance 

the 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 of 

federal, state, and local agencies. 

As a military Service, the Coast Guard will strengthen interoperability with the Department of Defense to 

support the National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy and to complement the capacity and 

capabilities 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 and 

transformative technology and policy solutions to complex and emerging problems. With little legacy 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 2 3

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 more 

urgent than ever. 

The Coast Guard has always been a creative, problem-solving organization. The Service must harness that 

energy 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 and 

private 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 Department 

of 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. 

The Coast Guard will continue exercising leadership across the 

Arctic community of federal, state, and local agencies.
24 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 rule 

of 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 uphold 

sovereignty 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, to 

uphold sovereignty, carry out operational missions, promote freedom of 

navigation, and fulfill other national and international obligations.
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 2 5
26 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 sole 

provider 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 the 

Service’s mission support enterprise during both surge and steady-state Arctic operations, including the growing role of 

cyber 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. 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 27

Establish Persistent Awareness and Understanding of the Arctic Domain 

To operate successfully in the Arctic, the Coast Guard must establish and maintain situational awareness and 

understanding 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 to 

plan, 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 national 

awareness requirements include:

• 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.

5 Implementation Framework for the National Strategy for the Arctic Region, National Security Council, March 2016, Appendix A.
28 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

The Coast Guard will continue to build Arctic awareness through both partnerships and organic investments in 

technology. It will also continue to support scientific exploration, monitoring, and research to increase understanding 

of 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 (NOA A), 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 the 

capabilities 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 can 

be 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. 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 29

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 of 

radio 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 the 

interagency, 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 to 

support interagency and joint efforts to field more reliable communications solutions. 
30 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

VI.

Line of Effort 2: Strengthen the 

Rules-Based Order 

 As 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 to 

provide 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 the 

maritime 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 recognized 

around 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 this 

regime, 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.
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 3 1
32 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 an 

effective 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 and 

uphold 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 enduring 

commitment 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. 

The U.S. Coast Guard is dedicated to strengthening 

partners and institutions that foster transparency and uphold 

a global order respectful of sovereignty and independence.
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 33

The Service will also continue to work through global bodies, such as the IMO, to represent U.S. interests and reduce 

risk 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 uses 

of 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 and 

operations, 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 is 

vital to upholding a peacful rules-based order. Collaboration with these bodies reinforces the relationships and lines of 

communication needed to inoculate members against revisionist activities by strategic competitors. The Coast Guard is 

determined to keep these forums vibrant and relevant now and in the years to come.
34 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 by 

conducting 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-Pacific 

Command, 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, the 

Coast 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 work 

needed 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 the 

Service’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 be 

less 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 and 

national security priorities. 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 3 5

OPER ATION ARCTIC SHIELD

Coast Guard District Seventeen (D17) leads Operation ARCTIC SHIELD, a year-round planning and 

operational endeavor which provides mobile and scalable presence in the A rctic domain in support of the 

National and Coast Guard A rctic 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, and 

shore-side resources to conduct a broad range of search and rescue, law enforcement, marine safety, and 

other activities. 

Working closely with allies and partners, the U.S. Coast Guard will deter threats to 

international maritime norms and America’s national interests by conducting 

effective maritime operations and exercises along the full spectrum of competition.
36 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 3 7

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 and 

technology to serve the maritime community and manage risk in the Arctic region. By collaborating and 

innovating with Arctic stakeholders, the Coast Guard will protect the homeland and its citizens living in 

this 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. 

 
38 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

Support Regional Resilience and Lead in Crisis Response 

Arctic communities face increasingly frequent and severe incidents due to changing climate and 

growing 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 logistical 

and 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 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 39

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 the 

closest 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 to 

intensively work with international partners, the Department of Homeland Security, Department 

of Defense, State of Alaska, Alaska Native communities, industry, and local resources to close 

operational and logistical gaps.
40 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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 of 

Maritime 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 the 

corresponding 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 of 

existing fisheries regulations and international agreements more difficult. The Coast Guard will continue to monitor and 

assess 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, and 

other 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 to 

maintain 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 the 

evolving risks to the Arctic MTS. By leveraging robust 

governance models and deploying modern aids to 

navigation 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 to 

the strength, resilience, and prosperity of the Nation. 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 41

I M PROV ED NAV IG ATION SA FET Y A N D EN V IRON M EN TA L

 PROTECTION IN A ND NEAR THE BERING STR AIT

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.
42 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

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, and 

environmentally 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 in 

capability 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 influence 

in 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-critical 

services, 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. Partnership

and Unity of Effort, whether it is with NATO allies or with Alaska Native partners, are preconditions for success in the 

complex, 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 in 

the 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 and 

innovate to be Always Ready for the missions to come.
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 4 3

The Coast Guard will lead institutions 

and cooperate with partners to promote rule of law 

and prevent malign influence in the Arctic.
44 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

 The Nation needs a modern, flexible, innovative Coast Guard to meet the challenge 
USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK 4 5

of providing holistic security in the novel and dynamic Arctic maritime domain.
46 USCG ARCTIC STR ATEGIC OUTLOOK

U.S. COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS

WASHINGTON, D.C.

OFFICE OF EMERGING POLICY

CG-DCO-X

www.uscg.mil