Report on the Arctic Capabilities of the U.S. Armed Forces, Appendixes

Russia and China are the primary competitors in the Arctic that could challenge, and have challenged, activities of the United States and its allies and partners in the Arctic. This appendix describes how Russia and China have challenged these activities thus far and what future challenges the United States could face in this region. Our discussions focus on strategic objectives of Russia and China in the Arctic; the geopolitical, domestic, economic, and military activities that support these objectives; and conclusions about what these activities could mean for the United States in the Arctic.