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	ASNE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC OPERATIONS SYMPOSIUM
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            <h1>ASNE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC OPERATIONS SYMPOSIUM</h1>
            <h3>6 Mar 2024</h3>
            <div class="quickfacts">
                <h2 class="qf-press-release">Quick Facts</h2>
                
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Remarks as prepared:</b><br />
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 <b>Good morning everyone, and thank you, Dave (VADM Ret David Lewis) for your kind introduction. I’d also like to thank CAPT Dale ‘Kid’ Lumme (Luh-ME) for the invitation. Coming to speak at a symposium centered on the Arctic is a tremendous and infrequent opportunity for me. As I will cover later, the vast frontier of the polar ice cap is something that has my utmost attention from my seat as the Navy’s Component Commander for both U-S Northern Command and U-S Strategic Command.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Before I get too far ahead of myself, how about a round of applause for the American Society of Naval Engineers and the support team for truly knocking this event out of the park! (**PAUSE/LEAD APPLAUSE**): </b></span></p>

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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I’d like to specifically thank, Retired RADM Ron Rabago (Rob-a-Go) and Dale Lumme (Luh-ME) again for acting as our official Masters of Ceremony.</b></span></p>
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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I would also like to thank Retired VADM David Lewis, our A-S-N-E President, for your leadership of this professional society intended for engineers, scientists, and practitioners who conceive, design, test, construct, outfit, operate and maintain complex naval and maritime ships, submarines and aircraft, their systems, and subsystems. </b></span></p>
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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">For over 135 years, this organization has persevered and risen to meet the changing character of warfare from the Spanish-American War, to the World Wars, through the Cold Wars all the way into this era of Strategic Competition. You have consistently delivered the ideas, innovation, and ingenuity for the United States’ Maritime Services to remain World Class, truly in a league of our own! (**PAUSE/LEAD APPLAUSE**)</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Next, I have to give a huge shout out to the MITAGS team here for hosting us. This is the perfect place for an event like this, which is really the professional school house that train our civilian mariners whom will one-day routinely operate in the Arctic. I am looking forward to getting a behind the scenes look at the simulators and talking with the leadership to see how I can help tighten our bonds between Military Sealift Command and this extraordinary Maritime Institute of Technology.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Okay – lastly, to our distinguished guests, industry members, flag and general officers, and all of our service members, the Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and our Department of the Defense civilians in the audience...thank you for making the time to be here today and this week, whether you're wearing a uniform or a suit, I encourage you to use this venue to share your ideas, to collaborate to build your network, talk about our challenges and commit to working together to ensure that our Navy remains the most powerful Navy – and military – in the world. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Events like this don’t happen often, and it isn’t easy to get this group of eye-watering talent in a room to really discuss what kind of time, energy, and investments it will take for the United States to truly conquer the final frontier of our true high north. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">This two day event brings subject matter experts from maritime industry, Program Executive Offices, and the National Security enterprise to include:</b></span></p>

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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The Honorable Rick Spinrad, Administrator of NOAA and Undersecretary of Commerce; </b></span></p>
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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The Honorable Chris Lehman, former Special Assistant to President Reagan for National Security Affairs;  </b></span></p>
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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Dr. Kelly Kryc, our Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce;</b></span></p>
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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">All our Partners and Allies;</b></span></p>
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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">And all subject matter experts from think tanks and academia, as well as practitioners and enthusiasts like me. It is critical to get us together so that the United States can announce with one “Blue Arctic” strategic voice, the United States will “protect our interests and people and ensure this region remains peaceful and prosperous for future generations.”</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">And it is because of all of you – those in uniform – that we have been so successful in there ventures, and it has always been because of you – the center of gravity of our military and national defense. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The United States Navy is the world's premier fighting force. I could not be more proud of our Navy team of our active and reserve Sailors and of our civilians who execute the Navy's mission every single day. Our Navy team operates far forward to preserve the peace, respond in crisis, and win decisively in war. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Right now, our Sailors and service members are standing the watch around the world and around the clock from the seabed to space, in cyberspace, and in the information environment, to deter aggression, promote our nation's prosperity and security, and provide options to our nation’s decision makers.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I am honored to be here today representing that group, thrilled to bring together the operators, the subject matter experts designing our platforms, those interested in Arctic and of course, the industrial base... we need All Hands on Deck!</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I’m known for being tough on our Defense Industrial Base partners, demanding on time and on cost production performance despite challenges faced with labor shortages, quality issues, and supply chain distribution constraints. The stakes have never been higher. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I have frequently voiced my displeasure about our inability to produce and deliver ordnance on time and in sufficient quantity, as well as complete maintenance availabilities with much needed modernization efforts on time and on cost. We must be at Flank speed to improve productivity, efficiency and build rates from our public and private shipyards in order to deliver new construction and overhauled ships – delivered to our Fleet...</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">In response to my feedback, I have been pleased with how leaders within the Department of Defense as well as many Congressional members see the problems I’ve identified in the same way. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I have been impressed with how many industry partners have reached out to work with me and Program Managers on stepping up production through improvements using an approach in which we embrace the problems together, self-assess together, and chart a solution path together. Truly assessing weak areas and shifting the rudder hard over and revving the gas to get back on track – the essence of Get Real and Get Better!</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Our teams deserve every lethal capability possible to go over the horizon to do our nation’s bidding. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The clear point I wanted to make is that we, not just in the Navy, but across the Joint Force, have problems that we need to address, and course correct so that we are ‘Always Ready’ to answer our nation’s call. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The true lesson I want to highlight with all of you is that even at this level, where the order of magnitude is measured in billions and billions of dollars, we have to be demanding customers and our industrial partners have to answer the call – we’ve also got to be on the same page, be transparent with our challenges, and be world class solution providers – never victims to the hard problems we face. </b></span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">** Why am I here? **</b></span></p>

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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Okay, so why does a Navy Admiral from Norfolk, Virginia care about the Arctic? </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">First, for those of you who are unsure of what I do as the U-S Fleet Forces Commander, I am charged by the Chief of Naval Operations with organizing, training, and equipping a force of over 125,000 Sailors and Civilians with hundreds of ships, submarines, and aircraft and support facilities across the U-S Atlantic Fleet that can ultimately prevail in a high-end conflict while meeting the objectives of our Combatant Commanders. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">In short, we protect America from attack and go forward to defend our interests around the world – and if needed – fight and win on terms favorable to the United States. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">As I said earlier, I have two other command hats in which I report as the Naval Component Commander to U-S Northern Command and U-S Strategic Command where I oversee all maritime homeland defense including much of the Arctic as well as employing all naval strategic forces. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">U-S Northern Command is also ‘dual-hatted’ as NORAD, the unique U-S and Canadian bi-national command, that was established to defend North America from Cold War-era Russian strategic bombers entering U.S. and Canadian airspace from the Arctic approaches. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">As General VanHerck, previous Commander of Northern Command, said: </b></span></p>

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  <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">“For decades, our nation has enjoyed the benefits of dominant military capabilities in all domains, and we relied on our geography to serve as a barrier to keep our nations beyond the reach of most conventional threats...”</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The ability of the Joint Force to operate and campaign in the Arctic remains a pressing concern for NORTHCOM and all Maritime Services under my authority as the Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander, or “JFMCC.”</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Therefore, as the NORTHCOM JFMCC, I’m responsible for defending our homeland and its maritime approaches, in which I’m specifically tasked to deter, detect, deny, and defeat threats to the United States, conduct security cooperation activities with allies and partners, and support civil authorities including humanitarian and disaster relief.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The melting away of Arctic Sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and raised concerns about the region’s future across many dimensions. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial interests in the region.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">So, for the rest of my time this morning, I would like to walk you through my “theory of success” and what steps we must take if we are to position ourselves best as the Arctic transforms, new passageways open, trade routes and infrastructure emerge, and adversarial players attempt to gain the advantage. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The P-R-C and Russia continue to invest in Arctic capabilities as both seek to increase presence and influence in the region while shifting the rules-based international order to their advantage. More than 50 percent of NORTHCOM’s area of operations is in the Arctic; therefore, my priorities in the region continue to focus on increased presence, campaigning through joint training and exercises, and close collaboration with allies and partners.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The effects of environmental change in the Arctic will have significant impacts on accessibility, infrastructure, and competition for the foreseeable future. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">This will allow for new opportunities and bring new challenges off our northern coasts. It is my belief that in order to be part of the conversation, we must persistently execute three Levels of Effort today: First, Maintain an Enhanced Presence; second, Strengthen Cooperative Partnerships, and third, Build a More Capable Arctic Maritime Force.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">As maritime services, we must decide what that enhanced presence looks like and what investments we need to make today to support sustained operations in the Arctic. At a minimum, we must leverage the strong relationships and capabilities of our Partners and Allies to achieve our presence and deterrent goals. We must invest in proven capabilities, improve our access to critical infrastructure and modernize our C-5-I systems if we are to operate with confidence at high latitudes and in the harsh Arctic environment. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">To achieve these ends, we must operate efficiently and effectively within and across D-o-D with Joint Force partners, Congress, Industry, and Intelligence stakeholders. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Make no mistake about it – we face formidable threats on the horizon. And, while the nature of war never truly changes, these threats are fundamentally changing the character of how we prepare our Navy and Joint Forces to fight.</b></span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">** Unclassified Threat Brief **</b></span></p>

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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I am sure you are all incredibly familiar with these threats. Strategic competitors and peer adversaries must be faced head on with purpose and realistic expectations with respect to the force we will have over the next several decades. I know many others have or will speak about these adversaries and the threats they pose; however, here’s my quick review so that I can tell you what I want to do about it.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The sea, to include the Arctic from the Marginal Ice Zone to the North Pole, has once again emerged as a primary focal point for peer competition. Where the international commons are threatened and attacked with kinetic and non-kinetic fires that are growing in range, complexity, and precision. The stakes have never been higher.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">China and Russia are our two great strategic competitors. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Now, what is really unknown, is the ever-growing concern of a new ‘no-limits relationship’ between these two powers. Just last summer, they amplified and increased the amount of joint training, joint exercises, and joint demonstrations. Bombers from both Russia and China operated out of China then they flew a joint mission into the Philippine Sea towards Guam.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">In the fall, a Russian and Chinese maritime Task Force of several surface and subsurface platforms conducted the largest combined patrol to date within the INDO-PACOM and NORTHCOM areas of responsibility.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Just in December, four Russian and two Chinese aircraft flew a joint military air patrol composed of H-6 and T-U-95 bombers and S-U-35 and J-16 fighters, which then entered South Korean Air Defense Identification Zone then turned east toward Japan. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The Arctic provides a good example of the changing physical and strategic environment and is a zone of international competition. Both Russia and China are increasing their activity in the Arctic. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Additionally, diminished sea ice and competition over resources present overlapping challenges in this strategically significant region. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Everyone should realize, Russia is attempting a ‘first to market’ approach in the Arctic. To corner this market, Russia’s government considers certain parts of the Northern Sea Route to be internal Russian waters and has asserted a right to regulate commercial shipping passing through these waters – a position that creates a source of tension with the U-S government, with allies and partners, even with China, who all consider those transit routes to be international waters.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Russia’s fielding of advanced, long-range cruise missiles capable of being launched from Russian territory and flying through the northern approaches and seeking to strike targets in the United States and Canada have emerged as a significant military threat in the Arctic. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">In the Fall of 2022, Russia added its first SEVERODVINSK-class conventional and nuclear capable cruise missile submarine to the Pacific Fleet, which poses a new challenge to our defense of the western approaches to North America to include the Aleutians. Simply said, we cannot sit idly by and allow Russia to establish their “9-dashed line” around the North Pole.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">China has their own aspirations. China is not content to remain a mere observer in the growing competition, declaring itself a “near-Arctic state,” and has taken action to normalize its naval and commercial presence in the region to increase its access to lucrative resources and shipping routes.”</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The P-R-C refers to the new trans-Arctic shipping routes as the Polar Silk Road, and identifies these routes as a third major transportation corridor for the Belt and Road Initiative. China is heavily investing in polar icebreakers, completing construction on its third in December 2023 with many more planned. For reference, the United States has two and they have been in service since 1976.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">So in quick summary, Russia and the P-R-C’s joint exercises have unquestionably increased, their joint operations have increased, their interest and investments capabilities pertaining into the Arctic have increased, and to be frank their rhetoric has increased. I only see their partnership growing closer, and that should be concerning for us all. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">That's a dangerous and unpredictable all-domain challenge that we must seek to understand more fully including the complexity of the three-body strategic deterrence landscape we now face.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Today, as most people in this room know, 90% of all trade travels across the world’s oceans – with seaborne trade expected to double over the next 15 years. The Arctic may be the world’s smallest ocean, but the Arctic basin is full of growing global economic and geopolitical importance, spurring more activity than ever before. The Arctic region is estimated to hold 30% of world’s undiscovered natural gas reserves, 13% of global conventional oil reserves, and ~$1T worth of rare earth minerals. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Arctic waters will see increasing transits of cargo and natural resources to global markets along with military activity, regional maritime traffic, tourism, and legitimate/illegitimate global fishing fleets.</b></span></p>
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</ul>

<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">** Theory of Success **</b></span></p>

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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Okay – so we have strategic competition; we have a shifting geopolitical landscape; we have strategic chokepoints being threatened; we have new waterways beginning to open; and we have adversary navies modernizing around us at a staggering pace... What are we doing to compete and sustain our advantages? </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I have just described a very complex geopolitical and highly uncertain environment. And when it comes to the Arctic, we are at an inflection point, where our day-to-day decisions must be rooted in winning this strategic competition across government, defense, and business sectors. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">U-S Naval forces must operate more assertively across the Arctic Region to prevail in day-to-day competition as we protect the homeland, keep the Arctic seas free and open, and deter coercive behavior and conventional aggression.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">In order to do that we need to act on these three Levels of Effort I mentioned earlier, specifically: Maintain an Enhanced Presence, Strengthen Cooperative Partnerships, and Build a More Capable Arctic Maritime Force.</b></span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">** Maintain and Enhanced Presence **</b></span></p>

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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Our Navy is the greatest the world has ever known because of our truly outstanding people. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Over 155 years ago, U-S-S JAMESTOWN (1844 Sloop of War) stood our northern watch as the U-S flag was raised over Alaska. Since then, our Sailors and submarines were the first to reach the North Pole, departing from our shores and those of our allies and partners who have long supported our Arctic operations. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Our Marines have long trained and operated in the Arctic. During the Aleutian campaign in World War II, our naval forces bravely fought alongside our joint and allied partners to repel the enemy’s attack. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">It was the proficiency and forward presence of American naval power in the Arctic Region that helped bring a peaceful end to the Cold War. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">However, the scope and pace of our competitors’ and adversaries’ ambitions and capabilities in the Arctic will require new ways of thinking and applying naval power and supremacy.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">For the United States to maintain our competitive advantage, we must Maintain Enhanced Presence so that our Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen can be an effective and integral part of our nation’s integrated deterrence strategy.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">It goes without saying, to have sustained presence in order to strongly influence if not dictate terms with our seat at the table, we must invest in infrastructure to support our forces there. That doesn’t necessarily mean only organic ports, though I applaud the $600 million project to expand facilities at Nome, Alaska, which will become our first deep-water Arctic port capable of housing cruise, cargo, and military ships. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Our security and prosperity will remain linked to the overseas basing options within other friendly nations like Iceland, Canada, and Norway to name a few. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">While Alaska remains our foothold to the Arctic, we have what Russia and China don’t – a network of Allies and Partners. Of the eight Arctic nations on the Arctic Council, seven are members of NATO or awaiting final confirmation. We must fully share the robust network and infrastructure with our allies and partners to continue to operate forward. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">As the U-S military continues to conduct routine patrols, and as we increase our operations and footprint given the expanding access and interests, we must conduct realistic and high-end training in the world’s most unforgiving environment. And it needs to ramp-up today so that we have credible combined naval forces operating in the Arctic to ensure the ability to deter competitors and rapidly respond to crises in the region.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Let me tell you, I am about to personally put my money where my mouth is. In mere hours, I will be hopping on a puddle jumper out of Dead-Horse Alaska on my way to the Submarine Forces’ ICE CAMP at the North Pole. (**LOOK TO EA/AIDE**) What is the temperature right now, negative 2F, oh my goodness! </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">But seriously, ICE CAMP is designed to meet our national security objectives, as outlined in the Department of Defense and Department of Navy’s Arctic strategy, to maintain an enhanced Arctic presence with the first iteration of this biennial event taking place in 1946.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">ICE CAMP provides the necessary training to maintain a working knowledge of a constantly evolving region where navigating, communicating, and maneuvering in an Arctic setting in which the acoustics, sea life, salinity, and ice keels present a very challenging maritime environment.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The participating submarines will make multiple Arctic transits, conduct operations at ICE CAMP Whale, practice extended operations under the ice, and operate in the high latitude regions of the North Pole that the Navy calls “POLEX.”</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Special Operations personnel will be in the vicinity participating in ARCTIC EDGE 2024 and will conduct interoperability training with a surfaced submarine.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">While we will continue to seek peace in the Arctic, history always demonstrates that peace comes through strength. ICE CAMP and other Joint and International exercises will help sustain our Navy’s continued proficiency in the Arctic while Maintaining an Enhanced Presence.</b></span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">** Strengthen Cooperative Partnerships **</b></span></p>

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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">As I said before, and it remains true, we have to include our network of Allies and Partners. ICE CAMP will include units and support from Canada, Japan, Norway, United Kingdom and research organizations like the University of Alaska, DARPA, M-I-T Lincoln Labs and many more. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The next Level of Effort follows logically that if we can partner and train with our network of Allies, we can entice, build, and Strengthen Cooperative Partnerships with other likeminded nations. </b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">An opening Arctic brings the United States closer to our northern neighbors to provide mutual assistance in times of need, while also enabling like-minded nations to defend the homeland, deter aggression and coercion, and protect the ever expanding Sea Lines of Communication.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Since I assumed my role at Fleet Forces Command, I have hosted great friends and Allies like VADM Topshee, Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy and responsible for overseeing the security of a massive Arctic coastline. He will also accompany me to ICE CAMP to demonstrate our strength in numbers. In actuality, I’m returning a favor. In 2023, he hosted some of our world-class Arleigh Burke Destroyers as part of Operation Nanook, which tested U-S, Canadian, French and Danish warships in the North Atlantic and north of the Arctic Circle. </b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Mutually beneficial alliances and partnerships are foundational to this regional footprint and will fortify our needed relationships through shared visions, common goals, and mutually beneficial national interests. </b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Allied and partner naval forces must jointly assess threats, share a common operational picture, define roles and missions, deepen defense industrial cooperation, and develop and exercise new concepts of operations for the Arctic Region.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I have mentioned the nature of our joint and international exercises, but while we train together we must build interoperability and mutual all-domain situational awareness as well. We must seek new and innovative approaches to connect people and information to help us avoid tactical and strategic surprise – keeping everyone on the same page. </b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">As General VanHerck said in his 2023 Congressional testimony, to “...maintain domain awareness and ensure integrated threat warning and attack assessment to national leadership, the United States and Canada must continue to move swiftly to field Over the Horizon RADAR (OTHR).”</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">As the General envisioned, the threat product lines that the Over the Horizon RADAR produces must be part of a larger intelligence sharing network by NATO’s Arctic Council members to feed our shared common operating picture.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">These efforts will ensure our ability to compete with the P-R-C and Russia for years to come while clearly signaling a lasting commitment to a robust, modern, and effective defense of the ever-opening international Blue Arctic commons. </b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I mentioned that ICE CAMP partners with industry and research teams, but those were mostly U-S organizations. We need partners to join us to continue modernizing command and control systems to provide faster, better-informed decision making, and continuing collaborative research, development, and innovation.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">It is crucial for us to be able to understand and predict the physical environment from sea floor to space, today and for decades to come. This essential mission advantage ensures the safety of personnel, equipment effectiveness, and informs future force requirements.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">It is critically important to get this right. But we cannot use hope as a strategy, we must decide and take actions today to define and fund those future requirements. </b></span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">** Build a More Capable Arctic Maritime Force **</b></span></p>

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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Therefore, the final LOE continues the logic train that once we couple Enhanced Presence with Strengthened Cooperative Partnerships, we must also prioritize the financial investments to Build a More Capable Arctic Maritime Force. </b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Following the end of the Cold War, the Navy-Marine Corps’ capabilities and operational expertise in the Arctic were not sustained at the necessary levels. Though we routinely patrol on, above, and certainly below Arctic waters, the maritime services must be prepared and postured to meet the demands of an increasingly accessible Arctic operating environment.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">First, we must invest in key capabilities that enable naval forces to maintain enhanced presence and partnerships. That includes the necessary cold weather-capable designs, forecasting models, sensors, high latitude communications, and navigation systems that all world-class maritime organizations need.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">However, like the investments made by Alaska into Nome, the infrastructure to support sustained and high-end military operations has to be improved and more robust. This includes port facilities, airfields, and shore infrastructure – across the Arctic it is critical for naval forces to project power. To maintain our operational advantage in a Blue Arctic, we must explore opportunities to reduce transit times, preserve mobility, and meet logistical demands of naval forces operating throughout the Arctic Region, including more robust personnel recovery options.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">We cannot rely solely on nuclear powered submarines, operating for 90+ days with the only limitation being our ability to store more food – our Surface Ships are an important part of the total force package. They need to get gas and supplies somewhere. They also need to be able to communicate back home to keep our national leaders informed.</b></span></p>
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 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Though I have been talking for a half hour and I promise to start wrapping my remarks up so I can take your questions, you just heard my Deputy N-6 CAPT Wilson who is part of several cross-functional teams supporting NORTHCOM to improve our understanding of the Arctic operating environment to enable the Joint Force to effectively monitor and respond in the Arctic in the near term (2027) and medium term (2035).</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Therefore, we have to put our money where our mouth is – through our investment and prioritization strategy including Acquisition Programs and Industrial innovation and capacity. For our defense industrial teammates, I said I am tough on you – well I am looking into your soul right now. </b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">We must be specific and transparent with our needs and hound our resource sponsors until we have what we need to remain world-class in this region of the world. I fear it sits under the radar of many national leaders. We can’t afford a 9/11 event to wake us up to the importance of the Arctic, five or ten years from now – Russia will have already set the theater.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Simply said, we must have capabilities that will affordably, and persistently enhance domain awareness with the Joint Force, U-S interagency and intelligence communities, as well as with key allies and partners in the Arctic Region.</b></span></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">** Wrap-Up **</b></span></p>

<ul>
 <li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">As I bring my remarks to an end, I will offer that we can get after many of these initiatives without new authorities, without additional lines of funding or shifting resources. But, for the Arctic Strategy to reach its full potential, along with all the competing requirements, our defense industrial partners (**PAUSE**), our Defense Production Team, will have to be ready to take action and meet demand. It will likely take multiple iterations, and we should all recognize that “Rev 1” of that process should be in run today.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">You can damn sure bet the Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen will be Ready to Answer the Call!</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">Because, as you can see since Russia illegally invaded Ukraine, Hamas launched its attack on Israel, and the Houthis attacked civilian merchants in the shipping lanes, your military and its service members have answered the call – whether it is the Coast Guard seizing illicit contraband from Iran to Yemen, the Navy shooting down missiles aimed at international shipping and innocent civilians, or the Marines on the BATAAN ARG ready to support humanitarian aid and evacuation operations – we remain Ready!</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">The maritime environment is our domain, and that certainly includes the Arctic.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">We set the conditions for decisive victory.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">It must start today with a sense of urgency.</b></span></p>
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 <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0f051105-7fff-b412-9cc4-2b042568f776">I look forward to your questions and getting after it – together. Thank you.</b></span></p>
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            </div>
            <hr />
            <p><strong>Speech by:</strong> Adm. Daryl Caudle</p>
            
            <p><strong>Presented on:</strong> 06 March 2024</p>
            
            <p><strong>Date Published:</strong> 06 March 2024</p>
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