U.S. Department of Defense Arctic Strategy

List of Key Chapter Titles

1. Executive Summary
2. U.S. Defense Interests in the Arctic
3. Strategic Environment
4. Defense Pathways to Address New Challenges
5. Enhancing the Arctic Capabilities of the Joint Force
6. Cooperation and Engagement with Allies and Partners
7. Military Exercises for Arctic Presence
8. Resource and Risk Considerations for Strategy Implementation
9. Conclusion

Document Introduction

The Arctic region is of critical importance to U.S. homeland defense, the protection of national sovereignty, and the fulfillment of defense treaty commitments. Amid major geopolitical and environmental shifts, including Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden joining NATO, deepening Sino-Russian cooperation in the Arctic, and accelerating climate change, the Arctic is becoming a new arena for strategic competition, prompting the U.S. Department of Defense to issue the 2024 Arctic Strategy.

Guided by the 2022 National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and National Strategy for the Arctic Region, this strategy's core objective is to maintain stability in the Arctic region and safeguard U.S. homeland security and vital national interests. It establishes a "Monitor-Respond" core defense concept, addressing regional security challenges by strengthening intelligence collection, deepening cooperation with allies, and maintaining global power projection capabilities.

The report systematically analyzes five key variables in the Arctic strategic environment: China's long-term planning in the Arctic and the advancement of its "Polar Silk Road"; Russia's military deployments and resource development advantages in the Arctic; deep Sino-Russian collaboration in the energy and military domains; the reshaping of the regional security architecture due to NATO's eastward expansion; and the transformative impact of climate change on the Arctic operational environment. Among these, the increased navigability of sea routes and enhanced resource accessibility resulting from melting sea ice have significantly elevated the geopolitical value of strategic locations such as the Bering Strait and the Barents Sea.

To achieve its strategic objectives, the U.S. Department of Defense has outlined three main lines of action: First, enhance core capabilities such as Arctic-wide domain awareness, communications, infrastructure, and equipment for extreme cold environments. Second, deepen multi-dimensional cooperation with NATO allies, Arctic partners, federal and local agencies, and Indigenous communities. Third, improve the interoperability and rapid response capabilities of the Joint Force in the Arctic through regular military exercises and deployments.

The strategy emphasizes that Arctic defense requires balancing U.S. global defense responsibilities with regional resource investments. Strategic blind spots should be avoided through coordination across combatant commands, integration of allied capabilities, and interagency collaboration within the government. The implementation of this strategy will provide systematic guidance for the United States to build an integrated deterrence system in the Arctic, uphold freedom of navigation, and address gray-zone threats, while also introducing new variables into the security governance of the Arctic region.