The Center for Arctic Security and Resilience (CASR) leads the defense-/military-related
education and research of Arctic security for the University of Alaska. Arctic security
involves protection of peoples, states, and areas in the circumpolar region from threats
and harms. Arctic security is achieved through sound political, military, economic,
and social policies and processes; effective international diplomacy and cooperation;
and strong national defense. The security of regions, including the Arctic, relates
to three fundamental realms: 1) cooperation, 2) competition, and 3) conflict.
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Recent & Upcoming Events: Arctic eTalks - 23 April 2021
This month features a presentation and discussion by Janne Kuusela, the Director of Policy for the Ministry of Defence - Finland. In addition to authoritative perspectives involving Arctic security, Mr. Kuuselsa will also provide professional insights concerning the much anticipated upcoming version of the Finland Arctic Strategy.
Recent & Upcoming Events: Fulbright International Arctic Seminar, March 2021
Draft article presentation at the “Fulbright International Arctic Seminar” Moscow, Russia. 19-20 March 2021, online. Jointly Organized by: U.S. Embassy Moscow, the Fulbright Program in Russia, and the Institute of International Education, Moscow.
Recent & Upcoming Events: North American Arctic Forum - 24 and 26 March 2021
A student forum on the North American Arctic co-hosted with Norwich University Peace and War Center, in cooperation with the Royal Military College (RMC), Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR) and University of Alaska Fairbanks, Center for Arctic Security and Resilience (CASR).
Recent & Upcoming Events: Arctic eTalks - 19 March 2021
This month features a presentation and discussion by Commodore James A. Clarke, Deputy Director of J5, NORAD/USNORTHCOM. Arctic eTalks is a monthly forum for open discussion (non-attribution) on key issues affecting the Circumpolar Arctic for academics, defense and security professionals, and military leaders from Canada, Finland, Iceland, Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland and Faroe Islands), Norway, Sweden, and the United States. The series is hosted by "The Watch" command magazine, USNORTHCOM, USEUCOM, USINDOPACOM and CASR.
Recent & Upcoming Events: Arctic eTalks - 19 February 2021
This month features a presentation and discussion by Sara Olsvig, former Member of Parliament for Denmark. Arctic eTalks is a monthly forum for open discussion (non-attribution) on key issues affecting the Circumpolar Arctic for academics, defense and security professionals, and military leaders from Canada, Finland, Iceland, Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland and Faroe Islands), Norway, Sweden, and the United States. The series is hosted by "The Watch" command magazine, USNORTHCOM, USEUCOM, and CASR.
Recent & Upcoming Events: Arctic eTalks - 22 January 2021
This month featured a presentation and discussion by Friðrik Jónsson, the Senior Arctic Official for Iceland. Arctic eTalks is a monthly forum for open discussion (non-attribution) on key issues affecting the Circumpolar Arctic for academics, defense and security professionals, and military leaders from Canada, Finland, Iceland, Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland and Faroe Islands), Norway, Sweden, and the United States. The series is hosted by "The Watch" command magazine, USNORTHCOM, USEUCOM, and CASR.
Recent & Upcoming Events: Homeland Defense Academic Symposium - 02 Dec 2020
The inaugural Homeland Defense Academic Symposium was held virtually from Dec. 1-3, 2020. It featured briefings, panel discussions, moderated paper presentations, keynote speakers, and a tabletop exercise focused on homeland defense issues at the unclassified level. To assist in this transformation, the 2020 Homeland Defense Academic Symposium enlists the assistance of academia to seek new ways to shape the security environment and enhance the United States and Canadian defense capabilities.
Recent & Upcoming Events: Arctic Defense and Security Orientation (ADSO): Executive Session - 23 Dec 2020
The Arctic Defense and Security Orientation program provides the primary instruction to the Department of Defense for the purposes of baselining Arctic regional kowledge, with special emaphasis on strategic and operational context. This executive session was conducted exclusively for the Commander and senior leaders of NORAD-USNORTHCOM.
Recent & Upcoming Events: NAADSN Ideas Series, 04 Dec 2020
Bouffard, Troy J., and P. Whitney Lackenbauer. "Russian Arctic Strategies – Ambitions and Near-Term Expectations." In NAADSN Ideas Series, edited by Shannon Nash. Peterborough, ON: Trent University, 2020.
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Recent Media
"...when then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Arctic Council that “Russia is not the only nation making illegitimate claims. The U.S. has a long-contested feud with Canada over sovereign claims through the Northwest Passage.”The statement “caused immediate concern” by Canada and other regional allies, said Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “The comment was nothing dangerous, but it was seen as very unnecessary,” Bouffard said in an interview Monday with the News-Miner.
Recent Publication
Bouffard, Troy J., and P Whitney Lackenbauer. The Development of the Russian Arctic Council Chairmanship: A Strategic Plan of Preparation and Pursuit. North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (Trent University, Ontario: 30 March 2021). https://www.uaf.edu/casr/publications/research/2021-russia-ac-chair.php.
Recent Media
Bouffard explains that this trip is meant to be primarily for research and learning. “I hope this does become a pattern for research and for other means and collaborations and learning about the environment and working together because the US Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard have completely different statutory requirements.
Recent Publication
Bouffard, Troy J., and Edward M. Soto. "U.S. Arctic Deepwater Port: Value-Added Capabilities in Support of National Security." Chap. 12 In On Thin Ice? Perspectives on Arctic Security, edited by Duncan Depledge and P. Whitney Lackenbauer. NAADSN Engage Series, 107-15. Peterborough, Ontario: North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN), 2021.
Recent Media
“the sheer size of the Chinese illicit fishing fleet, we just don’t have enough resources to chase down all of the the criminal activity. The Coast Guard is doing an outstanding job in that regard. They published a new strategy to combat this issue last year, and it definitely kind of steps up the concerns and objectives,” Bouffard said.
Recent Media
Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said the new strategy is an effective and comprehensive consideration of the challenges and opportunities involving land forces operating in the Arctic. “However, there are enormous difficulties to overcome in order to achieve proficiency in the ability to conduct sustained operations as well as contribute to the ultimate measure of military success involving precision enabled, combined arms warfare – something Russia is much further along in terms of capabilities,” Bouffard said.
Recent Media
“This, as a strategic focus and priority, helps to solve other critical issues and serves as an effective vehicle to pursue related U.S.-European partnership goals,” Bouffard said. “The connection to the Arctic includes the North Atlantic and above, where Transatlantic security benefits from an institutional approach to managing issues and Euro-Atlantic interests, versus the Eurasian interests that Putin has been developing and offering for many years as a solution toward a superior civilization over the so-called decadent West.”
Recent Media
“The Northwest Passage is still not completely surveyed up to today’s standards,” Bouffard said. “When the Healy can go into any of these environments, the crew is just going to learn an enormous amount and experience very real, challenging conditions, especially changing conditions.” It’s important for Coast Guard services to become familiar with how the region is changing. Even if a crew had experience transiting the passage before, Bouffard said, “I’d be willing to bet it wasn’t the same.”
Recent Media
“I expect that this was received well by Global Affairs Canada, in both of our coast guards and I hope to see that the transit would be cooperatively and even jointly escorted by the Canadian Coast Guard, as well as the Royal Canadian Navy.” Bouffard said he would love to see the RCN’s newly commissioned Arctic offshore patrol vessel HMCS Harry deWolf accompany Healy during its transit.
Recent Publications
Bouffard, Troy J., and Cameron D. Carlson. "U.S. View: Emerging Information Environment." The Watch, 2021.
Recent Publications
Bouffard, Troy J. "A Developing Maritime Operational Environment: Forward Presence and Freedom of Navigation in the Arctic." In Strategic Perspectives. Trent University, Ontario: North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN), 2021.
Recent Media
The maritime boundary between the U.S. and Russia in the Bering and Chukchi seas can be difficult to access because of poor weather and seasonal conditions. Both countries have limited resources for responding to incidents — from pollution to illegal fishing — in these waters. The pollution agreement is particularly important given the sensitive nature of the Bering Sea ecosystem, Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at University of Alaska Fairbanks, told ArcticToday...
Recent Media
Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said it was time for the U.S. to deal with Russia’s “excessive” maritime claims off its Arctic coast “one way or the other.” “Either we let them have this, or if we’re not going to, which we’re not, it has to be dealt with,” Bouffard said. “And Russia is not budging on this one.”...
Recent Media
Dr. Cameron Carlson, the founding director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management program at University of Alaska Fairbanks, told ArcticToday that the Arctic-specific strategies from DHS and other agencies were “way overdue” given the changing environment...
Recent Publications
Carlson, Cameron D., Troy J. Bouffard, and Dana Woodward. "Exploring a Nexus of National and Human Security: Food and Energy Challenges in the US Arctic." Journal of Human Security 16, no. 1 (2020): 30-40.
Recent Publications
Bouffard, Troy J., Elizabeth Buchanan, Michael Young. "Arctic Security and Dialogue: Assurance through Defence Diplomacy." Modern Diplomacy, Updated 11 July, 2020.
Affiliations
Below are various organizations of which CASR has been or continues to maintain an affiliation.
