The Coast Guard needs more national security cutters to protect U.S. interests and security in the Arctic, its senior-most officer believes.
“If we’re not present, if we don’t own the environment today, guess who owns it tomorrow? Our competitors,” said Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz a Dec. 7 speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Today, Schultz said, the Coast Guard has only two operational cutters in the region — a critical source of natural gas, minerals and fish. Meanwhile, he said, China and Russia are accelerating construction of icebreakers and other vessels designed specifically to expand their presence in the region.
Even if the current impasse between the White House and Capitol Hill ends and the threat of a government shutdown is averted, Schultz said, the proposed $750 million to fund the service may not be sufficient. Byzantine contracting regulations could delay the start of any construction of a new Arctic vessel until sometime next October, he said.
Meanwhile, Schultz said, the Coast Guard will continue to protect national interests in the Arctic with the assets it has.
“The Arctic isn’t emerging. The Arctic is now,” he said.
