14 DAY TRIAL // This past Friday, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that the country's Military was ready to implement a new strategy intended to keep the Arctic safe and peaceful in the decades to come.
Speaking at the 5th Halifax International Security Forum, the Defense Secretary explained that, thanks to climate change and global warming, the Arctic was slowly melting.
This means that, in time, shipping, fishing, fossil fuel extraction and tourism will all be possible in this previously inaccessible area.
According to some specialists, it is likely that these changes will take place by the year 2030, Think Progress reports.
Chuck Hagel pointed out that, as the Arctic transforms, it was mandatory that the US Military keep conflicts from arising once the exploration and exploitation became possible in this now frozen region.
“Throughout human history, mankind has raced to discover the next frontier. And time after time, discovery was swiftly followed by conflict. We cannot erase this history. But we can assure that history does not repeat itself in the Arctic,” the Defense Secretary argued.
Chuck Hagel further detailed that, as committed to keeping this region safe and peaceful the US Military might be, it was of utmost importance that other nations also got behind the country's Arctic Strategy.
“As the President noted, 'The Arctic region is peaceful, stable, and free of conflict,' and it is the role of the Department of Defense to ensure this observation remains true for future generations,” reads a Department of Defense press release on the matter at hand.
Furthermore, “But we cannot maintain the current Arctic security environment by acting alone. The Department will operate within the established framework of international law and collaborate with allies and partners as much as possible.”
As part of its new Arctic Strategy, the US Military promises to ensure security and stability in the region, protect the US homeland and its interests, ensure freedom of the seas and set up defense and warning systems.