Dr. Mike Sfraga, a geographer and University of Alaska Fairbanks alumnus, was confirmed as the United States’ first-ever Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. Dr. Sfraga’s appointment was championed by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who wrote on X earlier today stressing the importance of his confirmation.
Sfraga has held key leadership roles at University of Alaska, including vice chancellor at UAF and associate vice president. He is the founding director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center. He previously served as chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission. His decades of experience and expertise in Arctic policy, climate change, and international relations continue to shape critical discussions on the region’s future, the universe.
“Finally, we have officially joined the rest of the Arctic nations at the table after the Senate confirmed the United States’ first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. The need for this leadership in the Arctic has become even more urgent as we saw last night the fifth publicly reported incursion by Russian military aircraft in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone in the last two weeks,” said Sen. Murkowski. “Our new Ambassador will not only help America push back against our adversaries heightened aggression in the Arctic, but will be a critical resource in advocating for economic expansion in this increasingly vital region, committing to do everything in his power to protect American economic and security interests in the Arctic. I congratulate Dr. Michael Sfraga on his confirmation and look forward to the progress he will usher in.”
The vote was 55-36. All 36 of the no votes came from the Republican side of the aisle. Nine Senators, including Senator Sullivan (at the UN this week) missed the vote.
Let’s move everything north of Fairbanks south to Juneau.
That includes prudoe bay and every village unless they go fossil fuel free.
No humans or industry including site seeing hunting and any other activity that will touch the tundra.
Restrict all flights over the northern Alaska no boats in the water shut it all down.
Don’t we have someone in the bloated US government that can do this job? What a complete waste of taxpayer money. Just keep hiring with new employees, bloat the deficit. Is it really a 40 hour work week job that has been created where there was no work before?
Of course Lisa wants to keep adding to the payroll. Really good republican way of watching out for our money.
Obviously a hard left Democrat with all of the man-made global warming creds from wacko UAF. And promoted by Murkowski? What does that tell you.
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Do NOT confirm. Wait until Trump is reelected, then take the Senate vote.
Yano it’s important to have a geographer in charge so you can pinpoint those incursions.
Correct, Jay. Someone who can read a map and tell us where China and Russia are located in proximity to Alaska. A geographer with a degree from UAF carries tantamount information about this. Thank you so much Democrat Lisa Murkowski.
imporint
Can this fellow read a GPS and tell us which icebergs have polar bears onboard?
Oh boy, another Murkowski puppet. We are in trouble.
More significantly than this dude being appointed-is that the position has been created. And that’s a good thing.
As usual, the United States deals with Alaska in a reactionary – the rear view mirror is 20-20 – crisis management public relation spin doctoring.
i.e. spinning the lost opportunity and lack of action of arctic planning for logistics, resources, and staking claims in this North Sea Passage..
Super freaking annoying…
Here is my post on the other story currently published on MRAK about Dunleavy’s earth shattering take on the Russia and China presence near Alaska…
There has been years and years of Russian infrastructure, investment, and research in their race for the Arctic.
My Native Corporation- Sitnasuak- in Nome even utilized a Russian Ice Breaker in 2012 to assist in completing a fuel delivery for the community.
Why?
Read the article links I’ve attached here…
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This is about logistics, resources.
Alaska is a non-issue for Russia and China due to the lack of foresight regarding Arctic Economic opportunity, logistical cost savings for transport globally, etc.
Since the U.S. missed the boat on claiming Arctic territory-and investing in ports, harbors, ice breakers, etc. – now the ‘domestic’ defensive stance takes center stage.
Opportunity lost.
‘https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/15/us/alaska-russian-tanker/index.html#
‘https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Sea_Route#:~:text=There%20are%20currently%20six%20major,%2C%20Tiksi%2C%20and%20Pevek%20ports.
‘https://polarjournal.ch/en/2023/02/21/russias-claim-to-north-pole-territory-officially-confirmed/
And….
Trudy Sobocienski
September 24, 2024 At 9:42 pm
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‘https://warontherocks.com/2023/05/russias-gains-in-the-great-arctic-race/
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Refer to this latest article with reference to developments in USSR Arctic region …
‘https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/russian-investments-arctic-offer-glimpse-putins-arctic-visions
Vote out murkowski, Sullivan and peltola. Traitors
If you experienced medical errors or fraud reach out to gop.oversight.gov
“Our new Ambassador will not only help America push back against our adversaries heightened aggression in the Arctic,”…….
And exactly how will he do that??
Is he now the commander in chief of the United States military?
No? Then what is Lisa babbling about?
Maybe(?) … We should understand the need and/or purpose of this position, what qualifies as the best person to fulfill this role, what specifically is the mission here (ie: what is the specific desired outcome), what is the plan to achieve ‘mission success’ in this endeavor, and how do we measure performance of this endeavor?
I assume this is someone’s brother-in-law?
‘https://osupress.oregonstate.edu/author/michael-sfraga
Michael Sfraga
Michael Sfraga has spent over two decades exploring the Alaskan wilderness. He holds the first Ph.D. in Northern Studies and Geography from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and is currently an Associate Vice President at the University of Alaska System Office. The Chairman of the Denali Foundation, Sfraga is also a founding trustee of the Sub-Antarctic Foundation for Ecosystem Research, a member of the Explorers’ Club, former Executive Secretary of the Arctic Institute of North America, US, and a member of the American Alpine Club.
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