Alaska, Not Greenland, Should Be America's Arctic Security Priority, Publisher Argues
WASHINGTON — In a pointed critique of long-standing strategic discussions, Alice Rogoff, founder and publisher of Arctic Today and co-founder of the Arctic Circle Assembly, has called for a fundamental rethinking of U.S. Arctic security policy. Speaking on NewsNation's "Morning in America," Rogoff argued that the notion of acquiring Greenland, periodically floated since the Truman administration, is a strategic distraction. Instead, she asserts, Washington must urgently prioritize transforming Alaska into a "21st-century security fortress."
The debate over Greenland's strategic value, Rogoff noted, often overlooks practical military realities. "While Greenland holds immense symbolic and environmental importance," she explained, "its geographical position does not make it an effective shield for the continental United States against next-generation hypersonic missiles launched from Asia. The flight paths and radar coverage simply don't align. Alaska, by contrast, is the forward bastion. It's where our early warning systems are most critical and where interceptors would need to be based for credible homeland defense."
This analysis comes amid renewed great-power competition in the High North, with Russia modernizing its Arctic military bases and China declaring itself a "near-Arctic state." Rogoff's comments suggest a pivot from territorial acquisition to capability enhancement, urging massive investment in Alaska's missile defense infrastructure, domain awareness networks, and dual-use ports.
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Reaction & Analysis
Dr. Marcus Thorne, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies: "Rogoff is injecting much-needed pragmatism. The Greenland fantasy is a geopolitical heirloom. Alaska is already sovereign U.S. territory; the task isn't acquisition but hardening. Every dollar spent there yields more immediate defensive returns."
Anya Petrova, Former Diplomat & Arctic Council Advisor: "This view is dangerously simplistic. It frames the Arctic purely through a lens of militarization. Greenland offers partnership opportunities with Denmark on climate research and sustainable development that are vital for long-term stability. Dismissing its value outright is a strategic error."
Rick Carson, Host of 'The Defense Digest' Podcast: "Finally, someone cuts through the noise! Chasing Greenland was a vanity project. Our adversaries aren't waiting. Rogoff is right—Alaska is the frontline. If we don't fortify it now, we're leaving the back door wide open. It's not just policy; it's national survival."
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