Appointment of U.S. Arctic co-ordinator may signal more muscular American policy

The appointment of James DeHart as the U.S. co-ordinator for the Arctic signals the region's growing importance to Washington as an arena of geopolitical competition with Russia and China, say Canadian and American defence experts.

DeHart, a career diplomat with extensive experience in global defence and security issues, is stepping into a position that was left vacant for nearly three years after retired U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Robert Papp left it in early 2017.

Rob Huebert, a Canadian defence expert who teaches at the University of Calgary, said DeHart's appointment reflects the fact that the Trump administration is becoming much more concerned about Arctic issues.

"I also find it interesting, of course, that the individual that they bring in has much more expertise dealing with great power politics," Huebert told Radio Canada International.

DeHart's State Department résumé includes a stint as a senior adviser for security negotiations and agreements and two postings to Afghanistan, where he served as assistant chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Kabul and led the only civilian-led provincial reconstruction team in the province of Panjshir. He also served as deputy head of mission at the U.S. embassy in Norway.

'A pretty strong, clear message'

Troy J. Bouffard, who teaches at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is the assistant director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience (CASR), said DeHart's previous postings and the breadth of his global experience make him "the right guy for the right job."

"I think this is a pretty strong, clear message that increases the legitimacy of our interests, the U.S. interests, in the Arctic," Bouffard told Radio Canada International. "It definitely elevates the importance of the region diplomatically."

Huebert noted that, just before the Trump administration announced DeHart's appointment, it also announced two new appointments to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission: Jon Harrison of California and Michael Newton of Tennessee.

The commission is supposed to be an apolitical body that co-ordinates Arctic policy within the U.S., particularly on the research side, Huebert said. But Newton and Harrison are not known for having "strong backgrounds" in Arctic policy, he added.

Newton teaches law and is an expert on terrorism, accountability, transnational justice and conduct of hostilities issues, while Harrison comes from a business background, he said.

"These are interesting choices being made, because traditionally it was someone from the Arctic, Alaska, or someone who had a longstanding experience with the Arctic region," Huebert said. "And so seeing Newton and Harrison appointed, I think, shows a different direction of what the administration is in fact thinking."

Navigating growing tensions with Russia and China

Bouffard said DeHart assumes his new role as the U.S. plays catch-up with Russia and China in the Arctic.

The increased access to the Arctic region caused by climate change has underlined the importance for the U.S. and its allies, including Canada, of improving their capabilities in the north, he said.

"From a defence perspective Russia has made it clear ... that they are watching and listening very closely. They do not appreciate U.S. and NATO interest and movements towards the Arctic," Bouffard said.

DeHart's significant diplomatic experience in defence and security issues makes him uniquely qualified to navigate these tensions with Russia, he added.

Keeping an eye on Greenland

For Canadian policy makers, DeHart's appointment should continue to demonstrate the growing importance of the Arctic region to the Americans, Huebert said.

"We have to increasingly pay attention to what the Americans are doing," Huebert said. "The critical point is not to get the Americans focusing on us but for them to think of us as mainly good, cooperative partners in an increasingly important area."

One of the other things that Canadian policy makers should be watching closely, Huebert said, is the Trump administration's efforts to improve its relationship with Greenland, which could have implications for the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).

"I think the Americans have definitely gotten Greenland into their view as a strategically important location because of Thule [Air Base]," he said. Located on the north coast of Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory, Thule is the United States Air Force's northernmost base.

Canada has always thought of NORAD as something special for Canada-U.S. relations — but it's possible the Americans want to bring the Greenland into that relationship as well, he said.

"That, of course, may make sense on the strategic level but, politically, it challenges that special relationship between Canada and the U.S.," Huebert said.

"We're seeing clear efforts by the Americans to improve their relationship with Greenland, but not necessarily with Copenhagen at the same time," Huebert said.

"If I were in Danish politics, this would be something I'd be paying very close attention to."

DeHart's appointment also comes shortly after the U.S. Air Force released its Arctic strategy for the first time, Huebert said.

"I think it's all part and parcel of the Americans seeing the greater importance of the Arctic and the greater importance of the geopolitics of the Arctic."