Things are heating up in one of the coldest places on the planet. For the better part of July and into early August, some of the most elite special operations forces in the U.S. military participated in Operation Polar Dagger.
The exercises test the most highly trained U.S. personnel in one of the planet’s most unforgiving environments. This year’s exercise marks the first since the Pentagon released its updated review of the U.S. Arctic Strategy, which calls the region critical to U.S. defense.
“You never just have a training exercise just for the purpose of having an exercise. There’s always going to be a point or a goal” Matt Shoemaker, a former U.S. intelligence officer, said.
According to Shoemaker, the drills are a great chance for U.S. forces to hone their craft and they tell regional adversaries that U.S. interest in the Arctic isn’t going anywhere.
“If you remember, during the Cold War, the thought was, and actually the plan was, that the Soviets were going to fire their nuclear missiles over the North Pole,” Shoemaker said.
Units from the Army, Navy, and Air Force participated in this year’s Polar Dagger, providing air, land, and sea assets, like the USS John Canley, an expeditionary mobile base ship built out of a converted commercial cargo ship.
The U.S.’ increased activity in the Arctic goes beyond just drills. A little over two years ago, the Army launched a new aviation command in Alaska. In June 2022, the 11th Airborne Division established its Arctic aviation command at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Known as the Arctic Angels, they oversee two active-duty aviation battalions.
One reason for the renewed interest in the top of the world is climate change. The Arctic has less ice, and scientists think the shipping lanes could soon be open year-round. Russia and China both want to use those lanes to ship goods to Europe. No one in the West or NATO wants to see China trying to throw its weight around in the Arctic like it’s doing in the South China Sea.
“As a former intelligence officer, I’m always going to be extraordinarily skeptical about what the Chinese are doing,” Shoemaker told Straight Arrow News. “Everything that any organization does in China is, technically speaking, meant to bolster and glorify the Chinese Communist Party. At the end of the day, everything that is produced is meant to showcase how wonderful Chinese communism is.”
China currently has several scientists positioned at various Arctic sites conducting environmental research, which is considered dual use, meaning the findings could also be used to benefit the military.
Everything that any organization does in China is, technically speaking, meant to bolster and glorify the Chinese Communist Party
Matt Shoemaker
“Anytime there’s dual use, anything, that’s always going to least raise eyebrows and throw up a couple of red flags just to take a closer look,” Shoemaker said.
Studying ionic changes in the atmosphere can help weather prediction. The findings can also help missiles fly more efficiently through the same atmosphere. Data from studying oceanic acoustics can be helpful in several applications, like tracking animal migrations or enemy submarines.
While war with China in the Arctic or elsewhere is not a foregone conclusion, Shoemaker said the Pentagon needs to prepare for every outcome.
