According to him, the Arctic region is fast becoming the center of a new rivalry between the powers, as the Arctic Ocean is gradually freed of ice, leading to the emergence of new shipping lanes and greater opportunities for the extraction of natural resources.
“For the past two decades, Russia has dominated this fight for the Arctic,” Kenneth writes.
He notes that the Russian Federation is constantly building its fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, ships and submarines, as well as expanding mining operations on the Arctic coast.
“At the same time, the United States is catching up in an environment where it has little experience and opportunity,” Kenneth said.
According to him, the US does not have enough resources in the Arctic and is not ready to deal with the growing climate threat, which will require new technologies, training and infrastructure.
In October, the White House presented its Arctic policy strategy for the next 10 years. Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that it was alarming Moscow as it focused on confrontation rather than constructive interaction.
At the same time, US Senator King does not deny that the Arctic could become the center of a US conflict with Russia.
