Rethinking America’s Arctic Defense Strategy
In the high-stakes arena of global security, the Arctic has become a focal point of strategic competition. For years, discussions about U.S. defense in the region have occasionally circled back to a bold, historical idea: the potential acquisition of Greenland. However, according to one leading Arctic expert, this is a strategic misdirection. The real key to American security lies not in a distant territory, but in strengthening the fortress we already have: Alaska.
Alice Rogoff, founder and publisher of Arctic Today and co-founder of the Arctic Circle Assembly, argues that the U.S. should abandon the Greenland fantasy and double down on its Alaskan assets. In a recent appearance on NewsNation’s “Morning in America,” Rogoff presented a clear-eyed geographic and strategic case.
The Geographic Reality Check
The core of Rogoff’s argument hinges on simple geography. While Greenland is often viewed as a strategic Arctic outpost, its location relative to potential threats makes it less effective for defending the continental United States than commonly believed.
“Greenland’s geographic location makes it ineffective for defending the U.S. against missiles launched from…” key adversaries, Rogoff explained. The flight paths for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) from nations like Russia often bypass Greenland, making early-warning and interception systems based there less optimal. In contrast, Alaska’s position places it directly in the path of potential air and missile threats crossing the Arctic polar region toward the American heartland.
Alaska: The Established Strategic Hub
Rogoff advocates for a strategy of consolidation and enhancement. Instead of pursuing a costly and diplomatically complex acquisition of Greenland, the U.S. should focus its resources and political capital on fortifying Alaska. The state already hosts critical military infrastructure, including:
- Early-Warning Radar Systems: Key sites like Clear Air Force Station are vital for missile defense.
- Strategic Air Bases: Bases such as Eielson and Elmendorf-Richardson project power across the Arctic and Pacific.
- Training Grounds: Alaska’s vast terrain provides unparalleled space for large-scale, realistic military training in extreme cold-weather conditions.
By investing in modernizing this existing infrastructure, expanding port facilities for the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy, and bolstering its defensive missile systems, the U.S. can create a more formidable and cost-effective “security fortress” in the North.
A Shift in Strategic Thinking
This perspective represents a pragmatic shift in the defense conversation. It moves away from speculative territorial expansion and toward a focused, asset-based strategy. For policymakers in Washington, the message is clear: the tools for dominant Arctic security are already in American hands. The task is not to acquire new land, but to decisively strengthen the ground we already stand on.
As great-power competition intensifies in the thawing Arctic, making smart, geographically sound investments will be paramount. According to experts like Alice Rogoff, that path leads directly to Anchorage and Fairbanks, not to Nuuk.
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