The United States (US) is set to appoint an Ambassador for the Arctic, amid increased Russian military activity in the region.
The announcement comes as Russia steps up its presence near the North Pole, while China has been building Arctic research stations.
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg over the weekend warned of the threat posed by Russia in the northern polar regions.
Jens also voiced concern about China’s reach into the Arctic.
According to the US Department of State spokesman Vedant Patel, the new US ambassador will engage with the seven other Arctic nations, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia as well as indigenous groups and other stakeholders.
Patel also added that, the Ambassador at Large will be put in place to advance US policy in the northern polar region.
Also speaking, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, noted that peace and stability in the region are of “critical strategic importance” to the US and a priority.
Blinken will soon name the ambassador, whose appointment is subject to Senate approval.
