Legislation would elevate status of Arctic issues

Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate as the Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021 would establish an Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs to conduct U.S. foreign policy in the Arctic region and on Arctic issues, elevating such issues in U.S. foreign policy.

“As it stands, the United States is the only Arctic nation that does not have diplomatic representation in the Arctic at the ambassador level or higher,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who introduced the measure on Oct. 7 with Sen. Angus King, I-ME, her co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus.

“In fact, even non-Arctic countries, including China, have this designation,” Murkowski said. “As an Arctic nation, this is unacceptable. Having represented the United States at hundreds of Arctic events around the world, I know first-hand the value this position will bring to our country. It is important that the U.S. play an active and influential diplomatic role in the region.”

King noted that the Arctic is known to be a region of peace, ”but as maritime traffic and economic activity increase to the north, this stability must be maintained through careful, steady leadership and engagement with the rest of the Arctic community.”

Murkowski and King formed the Senate Arctic Caucus at the start of the 114th Congress to advance issues important to the Arctic and to the people who live there. Murkowski is also the vice chairman of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region.

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