OPINION: Anchorage's vital role on the global security stage

The most important geostrategic place in the world now has an important geostrategic conference. In mid-November, Anchorage, Alaska, played host to an inaugural event of great significance: the Anchorage Security and Defense Conference (ASDC). The multi-day gathering brought together international affairs specialists, senior military officers, diplomats and regional experts to discuss pressing challenges and opportunities in the circumpolar Arctic and surrounding regions. By hosting this event, Anchorage firmly established itself as a key player on the global security stage, joining the ranks of Munich, Singapore and other cities renowned for their strategic dialogue. But why is this conference so important, and why was Anchorage the ideal place to hold it?

First, Anchorage is located at the intersection of several critical geostrategic zones. The Arctic’s growing importance is undeniable, as climate change opens new maritime routes, and resource competition intensifies. At the same time, the region has become a focal point for military posturing from both China and Russia, two of the U.S.’s most significant strategic competitors. Over the past few years, Russia has stepped up its military activities in the Arctic, including naval and aerial operations near Alaska’s coastline. Meanwhile, China has increasingly asserted its interests in the region, eyeing access to its vast untapped resources and potential shipping lanes. As the United States’ primary gateway to the Arctic, Alaska is at the forefront of these geopolitical developments.

Second, Alaska’s strategic location has far-reaching implications. It serves as the first line of homeland defense, an essential power projection platform for U.S. military forces, and a critical flank for NATO’s defense against Russian aggression. The region’s geographical significance is compounded by the U.S. military’s increasing reliance on Arctic and North Pacific operations, making Anchorage not only a domestic focal point for security policy but also a linchpin in global defense strategies. Hosting a conference in Anchorage provides an opportunity to emphasize these points and gather the people who create, implement and influence policy.

Another reason why Anchorage is an ideal venue for a conference of this nature is that it uniquely bridges the Arctic and Pacific spheres of influence. While there are many conferences focused solely on Arctic security or Pacific security, few, if any, are in geographic locations connected to and thematically connect these two crucial theaters of geopolitics as effectively as Anchorage and the ASDC. From Anchorage, one can reach nearly any point in the Northern Hemisphere in less than 10 hours. This proximity to the Arctic, European and Pacific regions positions Anchorage as an invaluable platform for discussing a broad array of topics, from Arctic resource management and indigenous issues to NATO defense strategies and Indo-Pacific security.

In fact, a crucial aspect of the ASDC was the representation from both European and Asian nations. The Arctic is not just a regional concern for the U.S. or Canada or the Nordics; it is a global issue that impacts countries beyond the circumpolar north. For Europe, the security of the Arctic is intimately tied to its broader defense posture, particularly in the face of Russia’s aggression. Countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark have long been on the front lines of Arctic security and have vital interests in maintaining stability and safeguarding international law in the region. The involvement of NATO allies from Europe thus ensures that the conference addresses shared concerns and fosters cooperation on defense and security frameworks while also providing perspectives from NATO’s “other flank.”

Equally important is the presence of perspectives from nations in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and even that of China. As the Arctic becomes more navigable and accessible to resources, countries from the Indo-Pacific have made their presence felt through investments, research and military presence in the region. China, for example, recently announced a no-limits friendship with Russia, entered in an agreement with the Russian Coast Guard to collaborate on maritime policing presumably along the Northern Sea Route, doubled its investment in icebreakers and in Russia oil and gas projects in the Arctic. Much of this are points of contention for Arctic countries, NATO and Western-aligned Asian nations. Including Asian nations in the ASDC not only acknowledges their stake in the Arctic’s future but also helps to build an inclusive dialogue on how global powers can cooperate — or compete — in a region that is becoming increasingly important for global trade, energy security and climate policy. By bringing together representatives from both sides of the globe, the conference ensured that the full spectrum of geopolitical interests was represented, highlighting the Arctic as a truly international concern requiring collective solutions.

The theme for the inaugural ASDC, drawn from the U.S. National Security Strategy, reflects the urgency of the current moment: The 2020s are deemed a “decisive decade” for shaping global security. This makes the ASDC a timely and necessary venue for evaluating the geopolitical shifts that are defining this critical period. Senior representatives from U.S. Northern Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, NATO partners and countries across the Arctic, Europe and Asia participated, underscoring the conference’s global relevance. Discussion topics ranged from military readiness and climate change to resource competition and international cooperation.

Perhaps most importantly, the ASDC now offers a forum for forging stronger relationships and fostering critical thinking among leaders in the security community. By providing a platform for candid dialogue and consensus-building, the conference plays a crucial role in addressing urgent security challenges in and around the Arctic and beyond.

The Anchorage Security and Defense Conference marks a new chapter in the global conversation about security and defense. Its location in Anchorage — a city that embodies the intersection of Arctic, Pacific and transatlantic concerns — ensures that the United States and specifically Alaska remains at the center of discussions shaping the future of international relations.

Matthew Hickey is an associate director at Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, a U.S. Department of Defense Regional Center based in Alaska. The views expressed in this article only reflect his own views, not those of TSC or the U.S. Department of Defense.

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