Congressman Bill Huizenga has introduced new legislation intended to help the United States maintain a strong foothold in the world’s Arctic region.
Huizenga tells us the Arctic Watchers Act seeks to combat not only Russian influence in the Arctic, but also China’s attempts to gain influence there.
“China has sort of demanded and insisted on having a seat at the table as those discussions about the Arctic are going on with the countries that actually lie within the Arctic Circle, Russia being one of them, obviously the United States, Canada, you have Denmark, you have Norway, Finland, and others,” Huizenga said.
Huizenga says the Arctic Watchers Act would place specific Arctic-focused personnel at U.S. State Department missions in Europe and North America to keep track of security and economic interests related to the region. He says this isn’t related to President Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland.
“It’s a bipartisan group that has come together and recognized that this would be a good active way for us to reestablish our footing in that Arctic region.”
Huizenga introduced the legislation with Republican colleague Mark Amodei and Democrat Joaquin Castro. The three say the Arctic Watchers Act will help ensure the U.S. has a unified approach to the Arctic with European partners.
The legislation is now before the House Foreign Affair Committee.
