China is gearing up to expand its military footprint near Alaska, likely deploying bomber flights, a top US general has warned.
Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, head of US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Beijing is expected to intensify its presence—not just in the skies, but also across maritime and undersea domains.
He also flagged growing military coordination between China and Russia in the region, signaling a deepening challenge for US defense strategy.
US’s Arctic Strategy
The Arctic is no longer a frozen frontier—it’s becoming a geopolitical flashpoint.
Last July, the U.S. unveiled its Arctic strategy, highlighting two major concerns: deepening China-Russia collaboration and the accelerating impact of climate change.
“The Arctic is changing rapidly—both strategically and physically,” the Pentagon stated. It warned that China, Washington’s primary long-term rival, is expanding its influence in the region, while Russia, despite its setbacks in Ukraine, remains a significant threat.
As the Arctic becomes more accessible, it is emerging as a key arena for global strategic competition. The strategy emphasized that the US must be prepared to counter these challenges alongside its allies and partners.
To counter Russian aggression and enhance operational readiness in extreme conditions, US and NATO forces regularly conduct joint exercises in the region, which is known within the alliance as the High North.
China, Russia Flex Muscle In The Arctic
In the summer of 2023, Russian and Chinese naval forces conducted joint exercises in the Bering Strait, signaling a coordinated push into Arctic waters.
The momentum continued on July 10, 2024, when four Chinese warships were spotted near Alaska, inside America’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). They arrived just a week after China and Russia launched their annual joint patrol in the Pacific.
When approached by the US Coast Guard, the Chinese navy justified its presence as “freedom of navigation operations.” According to the Coast Guard, the Chinese ships followed international norms, but US forces responded with “presence met with presence,” ensuring that American interests in Alaskan waters remained protected.
The message, however, is clear—China is steadily expanding its operational theater against the US.
It’s not just China that is raising concerns. Moscow has also intensified its own unilateral bomber flights near Alaska and Canada to levels unseen in recent years.
Just last month, Russian military flights in the Arctic triggered NORAD fighter patrols over the region, with US F-16s now stationed in Greenland as a deterrent.
General Guillot sounded the alarm: “The growing cooperation between China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran to challenge the United States has direct implications for homeland defense.”
Why Does The Arctic Matter?
The Arctic, once a frozen frontier, is rapidly transforming into a global hotspot.
As Arctic ice melts, it’s not just the landscape that’s changing—the world’s trade routes are transforming too. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) has emerged as a game-changer, drastically cutting travel time between Asia and Europe. Russia is positioning this new path as a direct competitor to the traditional Suez Canal, offering a faster, more efficient alternative for global commerce. But this shift goes beyond trade—it’s a strategic power play.
With previously ice-bound waters now open, both military and commercial vessels can navigate routes once deemed impassable.
Russia, with its vast Arctic coastline, sees the region as both a strategic stronghold and an economic goldmine. Teaming up with China through the “Polar Silk Road” initiative, Moscow is opening Arctic trade routes.
Beyond trade, the Arctic also harbors immense untapped wealth. According to the US Geological Survey, with 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of its untapped natural gas, the region is poised to become a hotspot for resource extraction, further intensifying the geopolitical stakes.
More critically, it is the shortest missile corridor between Russia and the US, making it vital for missile defense and strategic deterrence.
Despite being far from the Arctic, China has declared itself a “near-Arctic state” and is heavily investing in the region’s infrastructure, eyeing its vast energy and mineral wealth.
Geopolitical tensions are rising as China and Russia step up their Arctic game. While primarily engaging through research and economic ventures, Beijing is steadily expanding its strategic footprint. Meanwhile, joint China-Russia patrols near Alaska challenge US military supremacy, mirroring Washington’s presence near their own borders.
For the U.S., the Arctic is a national security priority. With key military installations in Greenland and Alaska, including Pituffik Space Base, Thule Air Base, and Fort Greely, it remains committed to securing its northern frontier.
With Russia and China deepening their cooperation in the region, the Pentagon sounded the alarm in December 2024, calling their growing partnership “disturbing.”
Alarming Partnership
According to US authorities, the Russia-China partnership is deepening at an alarming pace. In recent days, their growing alignment has been on full display, with China supplying Russia with dual-use technology to fuel its war in Ukraine. General Guillot, in his testimony before the committee, flagged this deepening cooperation as a top concern.
“Their transfer of weapons, military technology, and basing access is cause for significant concern,” he warned in his remarks.
His biggest fear? A scenario where Russia and China grant each other military basing rights, slashing U.S. response times and shifting the balance of power. “That,” he emphasized, “would be a game-changer.”
Conclusion
The Arctic is no longer a cold, isolated expanse—it’s transforming into a strategic flashpoint where military, economic, and geopolitical interests collide.
The increasing military activity by China and Russia around Alaska underscores the Arctic’s growing strategic importance in global geopolitics. As the region becomes more accessible, competition for resources, shipping routes, and military advantage is likely to intensify.
For the US, maintaining a strong presence in the Arctic and working closely with allies will be essential to safeguarding its interests and ensuring stability in the region.
- Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for ET Prime. She has over 15 years of extensive experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic, and online domains.
- Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail.com
