U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warns of Russian ‘Checkmate’ in Arctic
By Robbie Gramer
May 3, 2017 - 5:32 pm
The commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard issued a stark warning on Wednesday that Russia was leagues ahead of Washington in the Arctic. And while the warming Arctic opens up, the United States could be caught flat-footed while other geopolitical rivals swiftly step in.
Adm. Paul Zukunft, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, warned that Russia is building up a huge military and industrial presence in the region while the United States dawdled. Russia is showing “I’m here first, and everyone else, you’re going to be playing catch-up for a generation to catch up to me first,” said Zukunft in remarks before the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “They’ve made a strategic statement,” he said.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/03/u-s-coast-guard-chief-warns-of-russian-checkmate-in-arctic-military-high-north/