U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) last week welcomed news from the U.S. State Department that it is establishing an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region to advance United States policy.
The Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region also will engage with counterparts in Arctic and non-Arctic nations, as well as Indigenous groups, and work closely with domestic stakeholders, including state, local, and tribal governments, businesses, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, other federal government agencies and Congress, according to the State Department’s Aug. 26 announcement.
“Before today, the U.S. was the only Arctic nation without dedicated diplomatic representation for the Arctic Region at the ambassador level or higher,” Sen. Murkowski, co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, said on Friday. “By establishing this role, America will solidify its dedication, commitment, and leadership to this strategically important region and have greater opportunities to spur the diplomacy necessary to preserve a peaceful, prosperous Arctic.”
President Joe Biden consulted with members of Congress, local and federal government officials, and external stakeholders to make plans to elevate the Arctic Coordinator position by appointing an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, subject to the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate, the State Department said.
“For years I have advocated for our country to elevate our Arctic leadership and diplomatic efforts to properly represent our nation’s Arctic interests,” said Sen. Murkowski. “I’ve kept pressure on the State Department, and introduced legislation, consistently emphasizing that it must uphold its duty to America by creating a position commensurate with our responsibilities in this rapidly evolving region.”
The new position dovetails with the recent opening of the new Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies in Anchorage, Alaska, a U.S. Department of Defense Regional Center the senator helped create that supports defense strategy objectives and policy priorities. Together, these initiatives send a strong signal to America’s allies and adversaries that the nation is “all-hands-on-deck in the Arctic,” said Sen. Murkowski.
“Make no mistake, because of Alaska, America is not only an Arctic nation, but an Arctic leader,” she said. “I look forward to the announcing of a nominee and urge the State Department to quickly move forward with the next steps.”
Sen. Murkowski is the vice chairman of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region and has co-led multiple U.S. delegations to the Arctic Council Plenary Assembly, which is the leading intergovernmental forum for Arctic affairs.
In October 2021, Sen. Murkowski sponsored the bipartisan Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021, S. 2967, which would establish an Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs, according to the text of the bill. The measure currently has 10 cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Angus King (I-ME), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and remains under consideration by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.