Sullivan: As world becomes more dangerous, Alaska’s strategic position more important than ever

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan released a statement after the U.S. Army’s 11^th Airborne Division announced the deployment of more than 100 soldiers to Shemya Island in the Aleutian Islands in response to increased Russian and Chinese warship activity near Alaska.

The U.S. military has also deployed a mobile guided missile destroyer to Shemya, and a Coast Guard cutter to the western region of Alaska, where warships were observed off Point Hope. On Sept. 10, Russia and China began the Ocean-24 military exercises in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans—Russia’s largest joint naval and air drill since the Cold War.

In the past week, Alaska-based forces detected and tracked four separate incursions of Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone and one incursion of Russian naval vessels in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone , which are believed to be part of the joint exercises. Similar Russia-China exercises occurred near Alaska in July as well which led to the first-ever air incursion into the Alaska ADIZ by a joint Russian-Chinese bomber task force.

“As the world becomes more dangerous, Alaska continues to be on the frontlines of authoritarian aggression,” Sullivan said. “Coordinated activity off Alaska’s shores by the Russians and Chinese is increasing: On five separate occasions in the past seven days, Russian military incursions into our ADIZ or EEZ have occurred – both naval and air. In the past two years, we’ve seen joint Russian-Chinese air and naval exercises off our shores and a Chinese spy balloon floating over our communities. These escalating incidents demonstrate the critical role the Arctic plays in great power competition between the U.S., Russia, and China.”  

Sullivan noted that authoritarian regimes appear to be testing the United States.

“Dictators like Vladimir Putin see through a lens of either strength or weakness, which is why I’ve long encouraged our senior military leaders to be ready and to respond with strength. While I was pleased with our military’s response which included sending troops to the Aleutians as well as a guided missile destroyer and Coast Guard Cutter, these actions should have more of a permanent basis – like reopening the Navy base at Adak, Alaska, which I have been pressing to be done for years,” said Sullivan, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Congress and the President should do more to deter further aggression. Chuck Schumer needs to hold a vote on the National Defense Authorization Act that was voted out of the Senate Armed Services Committee in June. In addition to rejecting the proposed Biden-Harris cuts on our military forces, the legislation authorizes an additional $790 million to help continue to build out our military in Alaska. We must continue to send a strong message to Xi Jinping and Putin that the United States will not hesitate to protect and defend our vital interests in Alaska and beyond.”