Why military build-up in remote icy US state is crucial for Australia
It’s remote, icy and often overlooked, yet this frontier has become America’s ultimate fortress bristling with jets and missiles and is central to Australia’s future as global tensions rise.
In 1935, the man now hailed as the father of the United States air force famously told Congress: “I believe that in the future, whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it is the most important strategic place in the world”.
Almost a century later, General Billy Mitchell’s assessment is more relevant than ever as global super powers compete for dominance in the Arctic territory that serves as the cornerstone of America’s missile defence capabilities, is home to its largest fleet of advanced fighter jets, and acts as a critical launch pad for operations in the Pacific.
Once a remote outpost purchased from Russia for $7.2 million in 1876, America’s 49th state took centre stage for the historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
But beyond the Trump-Putin meeting, the state commonly referred to as the final frontier has become the newest frontier in America’s military efforts as China and Russia become increasingly active in the region.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said his state was entering a new era of geopolitical upheaval but insisted he was confident in its “robust” military capabilities.
“We’re not just the Arctic state, we’re the Western Pacific sovereign,” he said.
“As I tell people, we’re 1000 miles closer to Australia than California is.”
Just 88kms separates mainland Alaska and mainland Russia and in the Diomede Island chain it is even less where only 3.8kms separate the territories.
Melting sea ice has made the region more accessible than ever, opening up new routes to
Russian and Chinese forces that have become more active than ever in the Arctic, closely watched by US forces.
China currently has five icebreakers deployed in Arctic waters – the most it has ever sent to the region. There have been regular deployments of research vessels, similar to those that circumnavigated Australia.
“The Chinese are flexing their muscles, but also exploring the Arctic,” Gov Dunleavy said.
“We see recently that there’s actually a lot closer collaboration between the Russians, the Chinese and the (North) Koreans.”
But he said that Washington was similarly strengthening its own ties with allies in the Pacific – despite trade tariffs and increased pressure on countries like Australia to increase defence spending.
Alaska’s ties with Pacific allies are actively being bolstered. Last month Alaskan-based troops flew 18 hours to parachute into Queensland’s Talisman Sabre Exercise. Meanwhile Australian pilots joined Red Flag air combat exercises in Anchorage.
“Even though we’re having robust discussions on things like trade and tariffs and defence spending, I think America’s … position with its allies and our view of our allies is still very, very strong,” Gov Dunleavy said.
“So sometimes you have to have conversations with friends, for example on defence spending, so that we ensure that, I’m not going to say parity per se, but that we’re all putting our shoulder into the yoke, to make sure that we are defending ourselves and our allies in a manner that’s consistent …”.
After decades focused on wars in the Middle East, defence resources are now being poured into Alaska as part of the US military’s posture in the Pacific.
More than 10 per cent of the population of Anchorage is employed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) which plays a vital role in the Pacific theatre, including through the 11th air force that projects combat-ready forces into the Indo-Pacific.
The base played host to last week’s peace talks between Mr Trump and Mr Putin – the first Russian leader to ever visit the Alaskan territory that Czar Alexander II sold to the United States.
Speaking at JBER, 11AF Deputy Commander Colonel Phillip Lancaster said the relationship with allies was a critical focus, noting Australian aircraft were routinely deployed there for Red Flag Alaska air combat training.
“The whole purpose is to exercise interoperability amongst ourselves as a joint force as well as multilateral force,” Col Lancaster told this masthead.
“It’s a very close partnership for us in the air domain in the Indo Pacific.”
Work is also currently underway on a $400 million runway expansion at JBER to expand its capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
Commander of the United States Army Alaska and the 11th Airborne Division Major General Joseph Hilbert said the 49th state’s unique position meant they could reach much of Asia faster than those based in Hawaii, allowing troops to reach anywhere in the northern hemisphere within eight hours.
China describes itself as a “near Arctic nation” and has become increasingly focused on economic investment and scientific research in the area.
“However, in the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in their military co-operation, particularly with Russia,” he said.
“Security wise, they’ve begun regular joint Russian and Chinese bomber patrols and regular Chinese naval incursions moving northward into the Arctic area. So the takeaway is Russia and China both see the waters surrounding Alaska as a competitive space and it is a large part of why we view US military presence in Alaska as so important.”
After September 11, the US military poured its efforts into wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Soldiers based in Alaska were deployed to the Middle East.
As a result, the military lost its arctic capabilities, prompting the creation of the 11th Airborne Division and efforts to regain extreme cold capabilities.
That division was deployed to Australia this month for the Talisman Sabre exercise.
“They took off on a C-17 from Joint Base, Elmendorf Richardson, flew 18 hours, refuelled twice in the air, put on their parachutes while in the air, and then the doors opened over Australia and we jumped into Queensland straight into the training area,” he said,
“We can do that anywhere in the world. So that’s the unique capability that we bring here.”
Maj Gen Hilbert was one of the soldiers to parachute into Queensland for the exercise.
Asked if he believed Australia was pulling its weight in the partnership, he said: “What we saw was a very capable army with very capable equipment.”
“They’re one of our key allies here.”
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Originally published as Why military build-up in remote icy US state is crucial for Australia
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