Ensign Robert DeLillo

Joint Russian and Chinese military activities in the Arctic last year signaled an urgent need to centralize leadership, command, and control for U.S. and allied military forces, as well as nonmilitary sources of power, in the region. To do this, the United States should replicate the past successes of the Department of Defense (DoD) in establishing combined and joint interagency task forces.

The Arctic has reemerged as a priority front for great power competition. Warming temperatures and decreasing subsea permafrost make new maritime trade routes and access to untapped natural gas and mineral deposits increasingly possible. China is expanding its sphere of influence into the High North, while Russia remains protective of its northern border and sea routes.

Commander Frieden is a security assistance officer responsible for managing foreign military sales/financing, excess defense articles, building partner capacity efforts, international military education, and global peace initiatives for 13 allied partner nations. He ensures coordination, integration, and interoperability of operations and information capabilities of partner nations, the joint force, and U.S. interagency.