Center for a New American Security

After surfacing through three feet of ice, crew from the USS Annapolis traverse the barren Arctic frost during Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2009. ICEX 2009, which lasted two weeks, served to train submarine capabilities in the changing Arctic environment. As we discussed yesterday in depth, climate change is causing Arctic sea ice to retreat further and further. As sea ice shrinks, the possibility of the high north opening up as a viable sea route is becoming more likely and Arctic nations are beginning to take steps to increase their presence there. As competition between nations increases over resources in the Arctic, militaries are being tasked to evaluate and bolster their operating capabilities in the high north.

Photo: Courtesy of Petty Officer 1st Class Tiffini M. Jones, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense.