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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress
capabilities and capacity over time; and following established Federal and DoD tribal
consultation policy as applicable.293
FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2810/P.L. 115-91)
Section 1054 of the conference version (H.Rept. 115-404 of November 9, 2017) of H.R.
2810/P.L. 115-91 of December 12, 2017, requires DOD to submit a report on steps DOD is taking
to resolve Arctic security capability and resource gaps, and the requirements and investment plans
for military infrastructure required to protect U.S. national security interests in the Arctic region.
2017 National Security Strategy
The December 2017 National Security Strategy mentions the Arctic once, stating that "a range of
international institutions establishes the rules for how states, businesses, and individuals interact
with each other, across land and sea, the Arctic, outer space, and the digital realm. It is vital to
U.S. prosperity and security that these institutions uphold the rules that help keep these common
domains open and free."294
2018 National Defense Strategy
The January 2018 unclassified summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy295 does not
specifically mention the Arctic.
John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (H.R.
5515/S. 2987)
In the conference report (H.Rept. 115-874 of July 25, 2018) on H.R. 5515, Section 1071 states:
SEC. 1071. REPORT ON AN UPDATED ARCTIC STRATEGY.
(a) REPORT ON AN UPDATED STRATEGY.-Not later than June 1, 2019, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on an
updated Arctic strategy to improve and enhance joint operations.
(b) ELEMENTS.-The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A description of United States national security interests in the Arctic region.
(2) An assessment of the threats and security challenges posed by adversaries operating in
the Arctic region, including descriptions of such adversaries' intents and investments in
Arctic capabilities.
(3) A description of the roles and missions of each military service in the Arctic region in
the context of joint operations to support the Arctic strategy, including-
(A) a description of a joint Arctic strategy for sea operations, including all military and
Coast Guard vessels available for Arctic operations;
293 Department of Defense, Report to Congress on Strategy to Protect United States National Security Interests in the
Arctic Region, OUSD (Policy), December 2016, Executive Summary (pp. 2-3). See also Joel Gehrke, "Pentagon
Updates Arctic Military Strategy," Washington Examiner, February 1, 2017.
294 Office of the President, National Security Strategy of the United States of America, December 2017, p. 40.
295 Department of Defense, Summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy of the United States of America:Sharpening the American Military's Competitive Edge, January 2018, 11 pp.
Congressional Research Service
72
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O'Rourke, Ronald. Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress, report, August 1, 2018; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1248258/m1/77/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.