Just one week before Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Alaska, Gov. Mike Dunleavy wrote a column for Fox News, warning that the Russian Navy, along with China are planning to control the Arctic, and they must be stopped.

“These bad actors are threatening to destabilize the Arctic,” Dunleavy posted to Facebook on Aug. 8. “My latest op-ed explains what is at stake for Alaska and our country.”

“Russia knows that the Northern Hemisphere is the world’s next great frontier. Lucrative sea lanes are opening for commercial shipping, and new technologies have unlocked access to the abundant untapped mineral and energy resources lying under the ice,” Dunleavy wrote in the Aug. 8 piece for Fox News. “In fact, some estimate that the Arctic holds as much as 22% of the world’s untapped reserves of fossil fuels. Russia, recognizing this, has launched a major military buildup in the Arctic. China, too, is rapidly growing its presence in the region.”

Dunleavy said the U.S. has lagged far behind these superpowers and have left the Arctic “dangerously exposed.”

“We are already dependent on China’s shipbuilding and critical minerals industries, and the international scramble for the Arctic has opened the door for China to seize control of even more of the world’s mineral resources — i.e. minerals we need for everything from weapons systems to advanced technologies to rebuilding our industrial base,” Dunleavy cautioned. “Meanwhile, Russia has begun shipping natural gas and oil directly to China and Asia through the newly-opened Northern Sea Route, threatening to undermine demand for our own energy exports.”

Dunleavy pointed out that Russia now has more than 30 diesel-electric icebreakers and seven nuclear-powered icebreakers, in addition to its combat icebreakers, while also operating 32 military bases in the region with more planned.

He noted that the U.S. Coast Guard is still reeling from years of neglect under the Biden administration with only three icebreakers.

Dunleavy praised the Trump administration for “overseeing the largest-ever Arctic maritime investment in American history.”

“Already, President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill has allocated enough funds for 17 new icebreakers: $4.3 billion for up to three new heavy Polar Security Cutters, $3.5 billion to build new medium Arctic Security Cutters, and $816 million for light and medium icebreaking vessels,” Dunleavy said, adding that there are plans afoot to build 40 new icebreakers.

“These powerful new ships will cut through the Arctic Sea ice, opening the way for America to dramatically expand its presence in the Northern Hemisphere,” he added. “Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, the Coast Guard will be rebuilt into the finest maritime fighting force in the world. It will help secure our northern flank against our adversaries — protecting American sovereignty, security, and economic prosperity for generations to come.”

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