CENTER FOR ARCTIC
SECURITY AND RESILIENCE

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“And you need that science to get policy,” says Troy Bouffard, director of the Alaska-based Centre for Arctic Security and Resilience and a former Council delegate. “It’s heartbreaking. You had NATO states working with Russia on things like emergency response, environmental protection, in ways that don’t happen anywhere else. Indigenous nations at the table too, with a voice, with power. We can continue the work. But what does it mean without Russia?”

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Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, also pointed out to VOA that China's economic behavior and goals in the Arctic have largely failed, except in areas dominated by Russia.

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“This is unprecedented — we haven’t seen mention of the Arctic in the national security strategy like this,” said Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience and faculty at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. It’s a “a significant step toward recognizing that the Arctic has not just growing importance but enduring importance for the United States,” said Mike Sfraga, chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.

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“It’s one thing to just say that we’re all friends and allies in the Arctic-7,” he said, referring to the Arctic nations except for Russia. “But more importantly, it’s critical that we… demonstrate this through exercises, through cooperation, through the continued efforts of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard-like agencies” to work on civil security and scientific cooperation efforts.

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In volume 5 issue 5 of the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, we return to the theme of Arctic security – a topic rendered more pressing in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s continued aggressive behavior in the region and beyond. This issue is a collaborative effort with the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Center for Arctic Security and Resilience. Guest editors Lt Col Richard D. Newton, PhD, USAF, retired; MSG Troy J. Bouffard, MA, USA, retired; and LTC Cameron D. Carlson, PhD, USA, retired.

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“With the new Russian naval doctrine in effect and China working to develop blue-water navy capabilities, it is increasingly necessary to provide U.S. and allied presence in the maritime domain,” said Troy Bouffard.

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The region’s strategic importance means that it benefits from priority allocation of resources, explains Bouffard from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He continues: “The Russian Arctic military is somewhat filtered from the systemic failures in Ukraine as a result of relatively new hardware and personnel advancements.”

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This project aims to address how SOF is currently postured to address the emerging security needs, challenges, and threats to, through, and in the North American Arctic in the 21st Century. 

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Editorial article by CASR Dep. Director, John Penningtion: "FEMA has decisively led the federal effort toward establishing solid and long-lasting government-to-government relationships with tribes. The current administration, led by Administrator Deanne Criswell, has furthered that effort by establishing a 2022-2026 Strategic Plan that mirrors many of the shared values and commonalities observed between diverse tribal communities – values that tribal emergency management has been focusing on for years. In addition, FEMA released its first-ever Tribal National Strategy on August 18, 2022."

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“Appointing an ambassador-at-large signals that the Arctic is growing in importance for the United States and comes at a time where the stability and level of cooperation that we have enjoyed in the Arctic has certainly changed,” Troy Bouffard, the director at the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, told Eye on the Arctic in a phone interview. “We’re likely to see a lot more competition now in all sectors, including geopolitical.”

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But Bouffard and two analysts from the Center for Naval Analyses told Breaking Defense that Russia’s shipbuilding ambitions, particularly the language concerning the country’s plans to build aircraft carriers, immediately raised eyebrows.

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Dr. Ryan Burke, CASR scholar and Director of Research at the Homeland Defense Institute - USAFA / USNORTHCOM - presents a compelling argument for a NOAA LNO position in support of Arctic national security interests.

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Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies (ANKASAM) presents the views it received from Troy J. Bouffard, the Director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience (CASR), the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in order to evaluate Russia’s new Naval Doctrine and its effects on global geopolitics.

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"Hopefully, fragmented Arctic scientific efforts can continue to make crucial progress until collaborative opportunities with Russia are possible again. There's no field of study concerning the Arctic that wouldn't benefit from scientific cooperation with Russia, including defense and security studies," Bouffard said, adding that "the loss from mutual collaboration in the Arctic Council alone probably can't be measured."

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Previous article from CASR members cited along with comments from notable UAF researchers.

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Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience in Fairbanks, Alaska, said he expects Canada’s NORAD announcement on missile detection represents “an intent” from Ottawa to explore missile defence with the United States. “A threat can come from different approaches now – not just the Arctic,” he said.

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Live news interview with Asharq News in Dubai concerning the announcement from MoD Canada on NORAD.

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“At this point, most seem ready for Norway to take over the chairmanship next year,” said Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. But it’s difficult to know how the transition will occur and whether it would involve Russia’s cooperation, he said.

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The Arctic is an area that is experiencing rapid change, increased development, and exploratory interest, and proposed solutions have the potential to produce new risks to both natural and human systems. This article examines potential security and ethical considerations of geoengineering solutions in the Arctic from the perspectives of securitization, consequentialism, and risk governance approaches, and argues that proactive and preemptive frameworks at the international level, and especially the application of risk governance approaches, will be needed to prevent or limit negative consequences resulting from geoengineering efforts.

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Live news interview with Asharq News in Dubai concerning the impacts fo Ukraine on Arctic region stability and sanctions against Putin.

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"As an operational HQs, 11th Airborne Division will be able to effectively organize and develop a high-level tactical staff with a defined Arctic operational purpose", Bouffard explains to High North News.

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“We are stuck with a pretty tense situation there,” said Troy Bouffard, director of the Center of Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “Either we acquiesce to Russia, to their extreme control of surface waters, or we elevate or escalate the issue.”

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According to Mr Bouffard, the Arctic Council gave Russia an outlet through which it could showcase its concerns and interests in the region, and work together on issues ranging from indigenous communities to security and environmental worries. "But now we've witnessed Russia throw away its chairmanship for its Ukrainian goals, and it's very disturbing," he added.

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It’s unclear if council activities can proceed without Russia. When the council was established nearly 30 years ago, “no such kind of language existed to guide these circumstances,” Bouffard said.

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NAADSN and CASR led a special session following the Joint Statement about the Arctic Council with the key findings captured in this report.

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Interview with "ASharq News" channel, an Arabic channel based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Troy Bouffard, Director of CASR concerning Arctic security and current issues.

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Putin “is absolutely in a position where he feels he needs to do this,” said Troy Bouffard, director of the Center of Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “He has shifted from a deterrence to a compellence strategy. And he’s creating the leverage he needs to effect change.”

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Following a joint statement from the United States and Canada, authors Troy Bouffard and Adam Lajeunesse discuss the purpose and next steps of NORAD modernization.

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Previous permafrost data article translated into Russian and republished in the Northern Arctic Federal University / Северный Арктический федеральный университет (NArFU / САФУ)

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For all the rhetoric and difficulties, NORAD continues to represent a highly effective source of North American defence and security. While challenges both persist and emerge, especially as adversaries project competitive ambitions, the United States and Canada continue to discern and act upon opportunities that balance and magnify their defence equities in continental defence.

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“There’s a need at the national level to understand what is the role of the Arctic in homeland defense and our national security interests abroad, and that’s sometimes going to come with a lot more debate and take a long time to reach clarity,” Bouffard said. “Understanding the Arctic in terms of what are the threats and what do we need to do about that is anything but clear.”

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It’s a trend that could bring its own set of problems, said University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Alec Bennett. That’s because no international framework exists to encourage countries to work together to evaluate and implement scientific solutions.

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Rapid environmental changes throughout the world and  in the Arctic are prompting the exploration of geoengineering solutions as one way to slow or mitigate climate change. These methods vary substantially in cost, risk, and reversibility. These solutions also have the potential to generate security and ethical concerns throughout the Arctic, in a region that could both benefit and be negatively impacted by these exploratory efforts. Exploring not only the technical aspects and feasibility  but the socio-environmental impacts proactively is critical to avoid escalation of conflicts.

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In late October 2020, President Vladimir Putin approved the “Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and Ensuring National Security for the Period through 2035.” Although the casual observer might dismiss this document as yet another Arctic strategy recasting old ideas with fresh rhetoric, the importance of the timing and substance of this Russia strategy is not lost on Arctic observers.

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The objective of this research, co-authored by CASR member Alec Bennett, was to model current and projected climate conditions pertinent to gardeners and farmers in Alaska. Research commenced with information-sharing between local agriculturalists and climate modelers to determine primary questions, available data, and effective strategies. Four variables were selected: summer season length, growing degree days, temperature of the coldest winter day, and plant hardiness zone. 

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Alaska’s Arctic region is opening to increased vessel traffic and global interest. What are the American military’s plans to ensure security? Lori Townsend speaks to Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Michael Sfraga, chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.

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Alexander acknowledged the keen focus required to prepare mentally and physically for Special Forces and said he shared these lessons with Norwich cadets at the symposium.  “There’s a lot of noise out there,” he said in the joint interview. “A lot of people want your attention and time and will take it if you let them have it. Don’t let them have it for free.”

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Live radio interview conducted in connection with the Norwich University Military Writers' Symposium at the Sullivan Museum and History Center. First part of the show, CASR member Sam Alexander is interviewed, and the end of the show, Troy Bouffard is interviewed.

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Troy Bouffard, director of the Arctic Security and Defense Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said President Vladimir Putin “really changed [Russia’s] approach to international development” and sees the Arctic playing a vital role in Moscow’s return as a great power.

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“We’re probably starting to frustrate them a little bit, maybe, with the South China Sea issue,” Bouffard said. The Aleutian exercise may be a demonstration of China’s capabilities in light of those U.S. exercises in the South China Sea. “I don’t think they’re trying to provoke a reaction, necessarily, but I think they were sending a clear strategic message,” Bouffard said. “They can also enter our waters under legal norms.”

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The Arctic represents a key region concerning climate security issues and should be appropriately reflected in primary national guidance. As such, a reformed policy should be published in order to align with whole-of-government responsibilities involving the U.S. Arctic. This article provides essential factors that can contribute to the development of revised strategy.

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A University of Alaska Fairbanks analyst says both the Alaskan Command and Alaska Air National Guard have got what it takes to help with the operation, if tapped by the Pentagon. “Their ability to go support the mission right now would be very reasonable, expected – no surprise at all,” says Troy Bouffard, who directs UAF’s Center for Arctic Security and Resilience. “They do this stuff all the time.”

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The Arctic Academic eTalks closed sessions are invite only with select experts who can authoritatively contribute (non-attribution) to the discussion on key Arctic issues.The proceedings from the closed sessions are presented in a Summary Report that is shared with key stakeholders, practitioners, military leaders, and senior government officials in the Circumpolar Arctic region. Please let us know if you are interested in participating and as well your area of expertise at: casr@alaska.edu

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Hear a short interview with CASR member and co-principle investigator Alec Bennett on a recent NSF project concerning exploration of Low Power Wide Area LPWA networks of measurement sensors that will expand scientific and technical knowledge crucial for practical applications in planning for climate-change-related threats in cold regions, such as extreme snowfall and flooding and infrastructure damage due to frozen ground thaw. Link to project details here.

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The topic of this issue is Russia and the Arctic. Troy J. Bouffard and P. Whitney Lackenbauer discuss Russia’s 2021–2023 chairmanship of the Arctic Council, positing that Russia is not seeking to revise Arctic governance structures or undermine regional peace; instead, Moscow seeks to define the region in its preferred terms.

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Defense policies and strategies are riddled with deliberate and calculated words—which makes the words used in the recent flurry of service-specific Arctic strategies that much more curious. There is no doubt that a tremendous level of effort went into producing the collection of Arctic strategies we find before us today. There are some wonderful words and thoughtful analyses within each. But for all good words, there are some equally strange ones leaving us to question exactly what they mean and the intent behind them.

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What Do Russia’s Ambitions Mean for the Stability of the Arctic Council? A transcribed interview with the director of CASR and the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) Institute.

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Another obstacle will be deep differences over two key — and overlapping — issues, said Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks: Russia’s military build-up in the region and its efforts to exert control over the Northern Sea Route, the shipping corridor that runs along most of its Arctic coastline.

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This time on our Polar Politics occasional series, Josh Tallis sits down with Dr. Cameron Carlson of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Dr. Elizabeth Wishnick of Montclair State University. They discuss the idea of Arctic identities in The Arctic states, how they compare between different nations, and their impact on great power competition in the region.

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This article explores the global data systems on permafrost, which remain sporadic, rarely updated, and with almost nothing about the subsea permafrost publicly available. The authors suggest that the global permafrost monitoring system should be real time (within technical and reasonable possibility), often updated and with open access to the data (general way of representing data required). Additionally, it will require robust co-ordination in terms of accessibility, funding, and protocols to avoid either duplication and/or information sharing. Following a brief background, this article will offer three supporting themes, (1) the current state of permafrost data, (2) rationale and methods to share data, and (3) implications for global and national interests.

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And although headlines suggest this new round of tensions could put stress on the Arctic Council’s work, Bouffard disagrees. “The greatest interest for the Arctic states is to filter out these global tensions and focus on the very real challenges facing the Arctic, that maybe not everyone else in the world cares about as much, but that we really feel up here in the North,” he said.

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“We are an Arctic country, and the strategic long-term concerns of the Arctic—in both Alaska, as well as areas of Canada and Europe where we provide defense—are important to us,” Cameron Carlson, founding director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management program at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, told The Dispatch. “We are lagging behind. More needs to be done in the Arctic.”

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“They’re very good at driving a long-term strategy,” said Cameron Carlson, founding director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management programme at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. “China’s been very astute, whether in Alaska or other parts of the Arctic, very good about inserting themselves.”

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The limits of Arctic stability without collective security management may be reaching an end. Whether by coincidence or because of the lack of an institutional framework, strategic interests and operational posturing are finally approaching dangerous levels. Interests in conducting high-level military discussions involving Arctic security are not new. But as a result of US sanctions against Russia since 2014, military-to-military contact between the United States and Russia has been suspended and defense dialogue is not allowed.

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In this article, we suggest that the United States should seek more balance between strategic imperatives and operational requirements and activities. This article begins with a discussion of the theory and doctrine addressing the relationship between the operational and strategic levels. We then survey relevant strategic documents from the U.S. government, seeking to find guidance that would inform both the American strategic approach to arctic security and any operational requirements that result from the strategic approach.

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Dr. Liz Buchanan rejoins the podcast alongside Troy Bouffard to discuss NATO, NORTHCOM, and NORAD's differing roles in the Arctic and the challenge of establishing an Arctic security institution.

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"...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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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“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.”

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“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.”

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“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.

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Bouffard, Troy J., and Cameron D. Carlson. "U.S. View: Emerging Information Environment." The Watch, 2021.

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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.

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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...

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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.”...

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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.

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Bouffard, Troy J., Elizabeth Buchanan, Michael Young. "Arctic Security and Dialogue: Assurance through Defence Diplomacy." Modern Diplomacy, Updated 11 July, 2020.