Northern Interests: What Is Behind the Appointment of the New US State Department's Arctic Coordinator

The position of the US State Department's Arctic coordinator will be taken by Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State Jim Dehart. Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo announced this on his Twitter.

Delighted to announce the appointment of Jim DeHart as US Coordinator for the Arctic Region. I am fully confident Jim will lead efforts to advance US interests related to safety and security, sustainable economic growth, and cooperation among Arctic States.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Dehart as the US coordinator for Arctic affairs. I am fully convinced that Jim will spearhead efforts to ensure that American interests in security and protection, sustainable economic growth and cooperation among the Arctic states are respected, ”Pompeo wrote.

In an official statement from the Department of State on the appointment of Dehart, published on the agency's website, it is explained that he will coordinate activities related to the Arctic to advance US interests in the region in terms of security, sustainable economic development and cooperation among Arctic states to maintain order.

“The United States plays a key leadership role in the international community on Arctic issues and remains committed to ensuring that there is a peaceful region where US interests and American sovereignty are protected, and where Arctic states work together to address common challenges ... Jim Dehart reaffirms the commitment of the United States to this mission, ”the message says.

Dehart worked in the State Department for 28 years and until his new appointment served as senior adviser to the head of the department for negotiations and agreements in the field of security. Fox News reports that Dehart was the main American negotiator in the dialogue with South Korea about the deployment of US troops there. He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Oslo, often holding the post of Charge d'Affaires of the American diplomatic mission in Norway for long periods. 

The American media, commenting on Dehart's appointment, emphasize that the current administration is concerned about the growing influence of Russia and China in the Arctic.

Prior to the appointment of Dehart, the post of Arctic coordinator - one of the leading positions in the State Department - remained vacant for more than three years. This position was created during the presidency of Barack Obama, but after the dismissal of the previous coordinator, Robert Papp (after the inauguration of Donald Trump), no appointments were made to this position.

According to a corresponding member of the Academy of Military Sciences, Americanist Sergei Sudakov, the appointment of a new State Department coordinator for the Arctic suggests that Washington is ready to build a strategy for countering Russia in the region.

“The United States has repeatedly stated that Russia unfairly owns most of the Arctic resources, and opposed the Northern Sea Route. In all their statements, they accuse Russia of actually being a monopoly in these territories. I believe that if a special representative has now been appointed, then the United States will form a full-fledged strategy of countering Russia in the Arctic, ”the political scientist said in a conversation with RT.

New appointments

The day before the appointment of a new coordinator for the Arctic in the State Department, hearings were held in the Senate to approve the candidacy of the new head of the Northern Command of the US Armed Forces. US Air Force Lieutenant General Glen Van Herk, nominated for this position, said during the hearing that he considers it expedient to place a permanent base for icebreakers in the Arctic latitudes of the US due to the growing presence of Russia and China in the region.

“China and Russia have vast resources in the Arctic. Especially Russia, which is resorting to militarization and has about a dozen bases there. It resumes the work of old ones or opens up new ones to ensure significant influence in the Arctic, ”the American military leader told the Senators.

At the same time, General Van Herk said that he did not agree with the position of the PRC, insisting on the status of a near-Arctic state.

• Icebreaker in the Arctic
• RIA News
• © Pavel Lvov

“China calls itself a near-Arctic state, which is hard for me to believe, but, nevertheless, they believe that this is so. But they also clearly want to maintain their positions in the Arctic. Therefore, in my opinion, the United States is also required to defend their positions. For this it is necessary to have certain capabilities, ”he said.

Recall that in early June, US President Donald Trump ordered the creation by 2029 of a full-fledged icebreaker fleet and the bases necessary for its deployment and operations to ensure a permanent US presence in the Arctic and Antarctic.

A corresponding memorandum, published on June 9 on the White House website, spoke of the construction of three heavy icebreakers by 2029, as well as the need to identify and evaluate at least two optimal locations for the new icebreaker fleet in the United States and two more international locations.

Sergei Sudakov noted that the United States, following Russia, is trying to create a modern icebreaker fleet, as well as form a military grouping in the Arctic.

“I believe this will create a conflict of interests between the United States and Russia in the region. In the future, this interest may lead to an even greater aggravation of relations between the countries. The United States cannot come to terms with the fact that in Soviet times it did not pay due attention to the region and allowed Russia to break away. No other country has such a head start as Russia, and now the United States wants to close its gap, ”the expert explained in a conversation with RT.

Arctic race

The signing of a memorandum on consolidating the US presence in the Arctic and new appointments to the posts of officials and military leaders responsible for this area suggests that the clash of Russian and American interests in the Arctic is a matter of the near future, political analyst Alexander Asafov believes.

“This issue is already acquiring certain outlines. For example, the information constantly circulating in the Western press that Russia was lucky to gain control of the Northern Sea Route, allegedly due to global warming, is part of the anti-Russian position on Arctic issues, ”the political scientist said in an interview with RT.

• Jim Dehart, US Department of State Arctic Coordinator
• Reuters
• © Lee Jin-man / Pool

In turn, the establishment of 2029 as the date for the implementation of the new US icebreaking program speaks of Washington's long-term plans for this region, Asafov added.

“This strategy has a clear anti-Russian content, and now it is acquiring additional relevance. Hence the new appointments and Trump's decree. All this means that the United States does not intend to yield to Russia in the Arctic. And their primary task is to oppose the use of the Northern Sea Route, ”the expert emphasized.

However, given the current balance of power, as well as experience in the development of the Arctic latitudes, the United States is far behind Russia, added Alexander Asafov.

“Despite the fact that they are trying to enlist the support of other countries, their efforts will not lead to quick results. But we see the strategic vector along which they intend to go, so the Arctic in the future, of course, can become a zone of conflicts, ”the expert concluded.