Map of the Arctic region showing shipping routes Northeast Passage, Northern Sea Route, and Northwest Passage, and bathymetry, Arctic Council, by Susie Harder

CIMSEC has an interesting article that argues against much we have heard lately. It also may represent a view that may prevail in the next administration.

“Over the past five years, numerous articles have called for increased U.S. defense resources focused on the Arctic. This is a strategic mistake, a distraction.

“This article will outline the reasons proponents feel the high north has increased value, examine the actual strategic value of each, and show that none is sufficient to divert scarce resources from higher value theaters.”

Personally I disagree with this,

“…the United States should…also reduce its icebreaker contract to the maximum of six suggested by the Coast Guard. While the current two icebreakers may be insufficient, the proposed buy is much too large. It will take shipbuilding resources away from the Navy at a time when the fleet is understrength and has no path to sufficient numbers of ships.

In the first place the number the Coast Guard had been using was nine not six.

The additional ship building resources used to build the Arctic Security Cutters, other than perhaps the labor, might not exist if it were not for this program and these yards may develop into assets that will build ships for the Navy.

We may not need eleven Arctic Security Cutters, and it may not be the best use of the funds, but we can definitely use eleven. I cannot see more than that.

These are not as capable as the medium icebreakers originally planned. They do not have the horsepower, so we probably need more than the four or five previously planned.

They can do things we had not previously planned for the Arctic Security Cutters. They can break ice on the Great Lakes. They can keep ports in Alaska open.

While these ships may provide an excess of icebreaking capability, they can be used for other Coast Guard missions as well. Like the Canadian AOPS, they can be used as patrol cutters when not used as icebreakers. They are not ideal, but they are useable.

I see the possibility of future conflict over Antarctica. If that should happen, we may be very glad we have them.