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| Photo Credit: AFP/Getty. |
The U.S. will appoint an Ambassador for the Arctic region following warnings by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that Russia has intensified its military buildup in the region, the State Department says.
In a
statement, Vedant Patel, the principal deputy spokesperson for State Department
said the role will help advance U.S. policy in the Arctic, as well as engage
with indigenous groups, state, local and tribal governments, business and other
areas, Newsweek reports.
The move followed
high level meetings between allies in the Arctic and members of Congress.
"An
Arctic region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous, and cooperative is of
critical strategic importance to the United States," Patel said.,
according to Newsweek.
"As one
of eight Arctic nations, the United States has long been committed to
protecting our national security and economic interests in the region,
combating climate change, fostering sustainable development and investment, and
promoting cooperation with Arctic States, Allies, and partners," he added.
Is U.S. interest threatened in the Arctic?
During a
visit to Canada, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg raised concern about
Russia’s rapid buildup of military sites in the region.
Stoltenberg
told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Alberta that there has been “significant
Russian military buildup” in the Artic but praised Canada’s defense investment,
according to Newsweek.
Stoltenberg
who confirmed Russia’s opening of hundreds of Soviet-era military sites, called
on the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to build defenses in the
region to counter Moscow’s expanding military tests of weapons.
"The
shortest path to North America for Russian missiles and bombers would be over
the North Pole. This makes NORAD's role vital for North America, and therefore
also for NATO," Stoltenberg said, adding that Russia's capabilities in the
area are a strategic challenge for a NATO alliance, according to Newsweek.