Operation Polar Vortex 2024 showcased U.S. and allied forces’ strategic agility in the Arctic, unfolding under tense geopolitical conditions.
At a Glance
- The first DOD Arctic Strategy update since 2019 was released in 2024.
- Operation Polar Vortex demonstrated rapid deployment capabilities in the Arctic.
- The exercises coincided with Russia’s Ocean 2024 naval drills.
- Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership boosts Arctic collaboration.
The 2024 Arctic Strategy
In 2024, the Department of Defense released its updated Arctic Strategy, the first since 2019. This action-oriented strategy emphasizes the Arctic’s critical importance for U.S. homeland defense, national sovereignty, and fulfilling defense treaty commitments. The strategy aligns with the 2022 National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and the National Strategy for the Arctic Region.
The strategy outlines sustaining investments in crucial military capabilities, enhancing overall readiness, and adapting to the region’s rapid physical and strategic shifts, partly driven by climate change. Increased activities from China and Russia in the Arctic underscore the urgency for a robust U.S. presence and capability in the region.
Operation Polar Vortex 2024
From September 11-15, 2024, Operation Polar Vortex was conducted by U.S. and allied forces, including units from Eielson Air Force Base and NORAD. The exercise featured F-16 Fighting Falcons, B-52 Stratofortress bombers, E-3 Sentry AWACS, and KC-135 tankers, along with unspecified U.S. Navy assets. The main goal was to validate and expand multi-domain operational readiness in the Arctic.
These drills coincided with Russia’s Ocean 2024 naval exercises, involving substantial collaboration with Chinese forces near Alaska. NORAD tracked Russian military aircraft, including Tu-142 and IL-38 ASW, in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone during this period, illustrating the heightened strategic posturing by involved nations.
Climate Influence and Strategic Adjustments
Climate change is having a profound impact on the Arctic, increasing accessibility and activity in the region. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks remarked, “The Arctic region of the United States is critical to the defense of our homeland, the protection of U.S. national sovereignty, and the preservation of our defense treaty commitments. Our Arctic strategy will guide the Department’s efforts to ensure that the Arctic remains a secure and stable region.”
This strategy also seeks to counter increased Chinese influence and activities in the Arctic, aiming to protect the current international order and ensure U.S. and allied strategic interests. As emphasized by top defense officials, collaboration with NATO allies such as Finland and Sweden will play a decisive role in addressing these challenges. The recent designation of the 18th Aggressor Squadron as the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, focusing on air defense, is one of the measures highlighting the strategic shift.
Future Operations
The joint U.S.-Norwegian exercise Arctic Shock is scheduled for March 18-22, 2024, in northern Norway. This exercise aims to exhibit rapid deployment capabilities in the Arctic and involves a significant airborne jump by U.S. Army and Norwegian Soldiers. Arctic Shock is part of the broader Nordic Response initiative, linked with NATO’s Exercise Steadfast Defender. These ongoing efforts underscore the U.S.’s commitment to maintaining a strong, responsive presence in the Arctic amidst evolving geopolitical realities.
“Climate change is fundamentally altering the Arctic, and with it, geopolitics and U.S. defense missions,” Hicks emphasized. “The readiness of our forces for those missions is always foremost on our minds.”
The coming years will determine how effectively the U.S. and its allies can adapt to and leverage the strategic dynamics of the Arctic to ensure regional and homeland security. Through constant engagement and the adaptation of new strategies, the Arctic remains a focal point in the ongoing efforts to maintain peace and stability on the global stage.
