Implementation of U.S. Policy in the Arctic

• Main Author: Jordan, Teri L
• Other Authors: ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Government and Political Science; Geography; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *HOMELAND SECURITY; *NATIONAL SECURITY; *POLICIES; *UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; AGREEMENTS; BOUNDARIES; COAST GUARD; COOPERATION; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; ICEBREAKERS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; NATURAL RESOURCES; RESERVES(ENERGY); SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH; SHIPPING; *NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE 66; *HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE 25; INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE; BOUNDARY DISPUTES; INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION; EEZ(EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONES); UNCLOS(UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA); BUSH GEORGE W; Arctic; Law of the Sea
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA584023; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA584023

A tremendous change in the Arctic climate is causing far-reaching impacts on every nation and on the Earth as a whole. The recent changes in the Arctic create numerous areas of interest for the United States, largely driven by national security and economic goals. Given the multiple U.S. interests in the Arctic, in January 2009, President George W. Bush published a national Arctic strategy: National Security Presidential Directive 66 - Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25 (NSPD 66/HSPD 25). Thereafter, numerous departments and agencies developed their supporting Arctic strategies and conducted studies, assessments, and research. However, the United States has failed to put forth the effort and funding necessary to implement its national strategy as laid out by NSPD 66/HSPD 25. An examination of the national policy, along with the various department and agency policies, exposes the intricacies and shallowness of the different assorted Arctic policies. Finally, a detailed assessment of actions taken by U.S. Government departments and agencies in the seven areas laid out in the U.S. Government policy, reveals poor overall implementation of policy, which if not corrected, will leave the United States militarily, politically, environmentally, and economically vulnerable in the Arctic. The original document contains color images.