document is not specific and does not include exact details. Although the USA has reiterated that it wants to have cooperation in the Artic, in October 2009, with the publication of the USA’s ‘Navy Arctic Roadmap’, it states that the USA navy needs to rebuild in the Arctic because of the potential future challenges the Arctic faces. 365 On May 10, 2013, the Obama White House released the National Strategy for the Arctic Region , emphasizing three areas: advancing U.S. security interests, pursuing responsible Arctic region stewardship, and strengthening international cooperation. 366 This document highlights best the USA’s strategy in the Arctic. It is a very non-committal document and highlights the importance of cooperation in the region, however it also highlights the fact that the USA is prepared to act if its national interests in the region are threatened. Academics such as Titley and St.John highlight the fact that the Arctic is a unique environment where the USA can build relationships with traditional enemies such as Russia and China on ‘soft’ politics areas. 367 This opinion is the preferred approach of the United States in the Arctic, it is not prepared to have a conflict in the Arctic over issues that happen elsewhere in the world as it would preferably want to view the Arctic as a separate environment, however will not rule out military conflict in the future.
365 Ibid. 366 ‘National Strategy for the Arctic Region’, Presidential Report, May 2013. 367 Titley and St. John, p. 274.
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