Proximity Matters: China And Russia Boost Military Presence Near Alaska

As President Donald Trump highlights the critical strategic importance of the warming and melting Arctic as he pushes for control over Greenland and even possibly Canada, Beijing and Moscow are reinforcing his concerns by encroaching militarily on U.S. Arctic territory around Alaska.

And they are doing so in multiple domains.

As such, the defense of the American homeland is taking on a dramatic newfound importance.

With previously ice-bound waters now open, both military and commercial vessels can navigate routes once deemed impassable. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) has emerged as a direct competitor to the traditional Suez Canal, offering a faster, more efficient alternative, drastically cutting travel time between Asia and Europe.

Since the Arctic also provides the shortest avenue for missile attacks between Russia and the U.S., it is vital for missile defense and nuclear deterrence.

Of the two powers, China is most concerning, now calling itself a “near Arctic” power. But Russia remains a threat too. With its vast Arctic coastline, it sees the region as both a strategic stronghold and an economic goldmine.

The Arctic also harbors immense untapped wealth, including 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of its untapped natural gas.

Most concerning is that the two big anti-U.S. powers are now more regularly operating jointly and teaming up through the “Polar Silk Road” initiative.

The head of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, recently told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Beijing is expected to intensify its presence in the region—not just in the skies, but also across maritime and undersea domains.

And this will increasingly come into conflict with the United States which has key military installations in Greenland and Alaska, including Pituffik Space Base, Thule Air Base and Fort Greely.

In July 2024, four Chinese warships were spotted near Alaska, inside America’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). They arrived just a week after China and Russia launched their annual joint patrol in the Pacific. And they are copying the US Navy playbook used near Chinese waters.

As reported by the Eurasian Times:

When approached by the US Coast Guard, the Chinese navy justified its presence as “freedom of navigation operations.” According to the Coast Guard, the Chinese ships followed international norms, but US forces responded with “presence met with presence,” ensuring that American interests in Alaskan waters remained protected.

The message, however, is clear—China is steadily expanding its operational theater against the US.

Moscow has also greatly intensified its own unilateral bomber flights near Alaska and Canada. Last month, Russian military flights in the Arctic triggered NORAD fighter patrols over the region, with US F-16s now stationed in Greenland as a deterrent.

General Guillot’s greatest fear is a scenario where Russia and China grant each other military basing rights, slashing U.S. military response times, shifting the entire regional balance of power.

“That,” he emphasized, “would be a game-changer.”

The warming Arctic is quickly transforming into a strategic military, economic, and geopolitical flashpoint between the U.S., China and Russia, where critical national interests may soon collide.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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