U.S. Strategic Interests in the Arctic

CSIS hosted a conference titled

U.S. Strategic Interests in the High North

Wednesday April 28, 2010
8:30a.m. – 3:00p.m.

As part of the CSIS “Geopolitics in the High North” project, in partnership with the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS), this conference explored U.S. interests in the High North and the challenges of developing an American security strategy in the Arctic with a select group of experts ranging from senior level government and embassy officials, corporate executives, and highly respected scholars. CSIS is pleased to announce that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, James Steinberg, has reconfirmed that he will provide the luncheon keynote address, and we have added Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) as the morning keynote speaker to kick-off this timely event (see press release here).

This event examined the impact of UNCLOS ratification on U.S. policy in the Arctic and discussed the development of an effective regional security policy.  As the recent historic journey of two German cargo ships from the Korean Peninsula to Europe through the Northeast Passage this past summer clearly demonstrated, the Arctic region continues to grow in strategic, economic, and political importance, while presenting the United States with important policy opportunities and challenges.   

Panel 1 and Keynote by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Panel 2

Lunch Keynote by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg

Panel 3