The US Navy plans to establish a base in Adak, Alaska, in a bid to expand its role in the Arctic as climate change opens up waterways, while also countering the influence and ambitions of China and Russia. The US Navy plans to send an Arctic mission under the freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) to assert the rights of ships to operate freely, and as Chinese maritime routes becomes possible, exploration of untapped petroleum reserves may be allowed. Meanwhile, Russia looks to use its northern coastline for trade and defence, while China plans to build a "polar silk road".
The US Navy plans to establish a base in Adak, Alaska, in a bid to expand its role in the Arctic as climate change opens up waterways, while also countering the influence and ambitions of China and Russia. The US Navy plans to send an Arctic mission under the freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) to assert the rights of ships to operate freely, and as trans-Arctic maritime routes becomes possible, exploration of untapped petroleum reserves may be allowed. Meanwhile, Russia looks to use its northern coastline for trade and defence, while China plans to build a "polar silk road".