WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The deputy spokesperson made the statement in response to a question about whether the United States is worried about Russia’s activities in the Arctic. The Arctic Council is meeting in Alaska for two days to discuss a range of issues around climate change.
“I would say we have concerns about how militaries conduct themselves in the Arctic, but that is for all of the Arctic Council members to discuss,” Toner said.
Russia has conducted a number of military drills in the Arctic and plans to strengthen air defenses in the region.
In the 2016 defense bill, the US Congress tasked the Department of Defense to draw up a strategic plan for defending US national security interests in the Arctic.
However, on July 9, the US Army announced plans to draw down 2,600 soldiers from its only Arctic-capable combat brigade at Fort Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska.
The Arctic shelf is believed to hold enormous deposits of oil and natural gas. Five countries bordering the area are particularly interested in the wealth of the Arctic, including Russia, the United States, Canada, Norway, and Denmark.
