US Arctic envoy shows regional race

The US' plan to create the position of Arctic ambassador and the increasing attention the region is getting from other countries show that competition for the region's untapped natural resources is heating up, experts say.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has sent letters to Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski, the two senators from Alaska, the northernmost US state, stating his intention to name a "high-level individual of substantial stature and expertise" to serve as Arctic special representative. Kerry sought Begich's and Murkowski's input on creating the post and finding the right candidate.

"For a long time now, I've shared the view that the Arctic region really is the last global frontier, and the US needs to elevate our attention and effort to keep up with the opportunities and consequences presented by the Arctic's rapid transformation," Kerry wrote in the letters, released on Friday.

"Properly managed, this region provides an opportunity for creative diplomatic leadership — but truly establishing and capitalizing on this leadership role will require making the Arctic region a higher US priority; greater attention paid by senior policy makers; and, in keeping with (US President Barack Obama's) call for ‘national unity of effort' on the Arctic, coordination of operational departments," Kerry wrote.

The US is set to take over the rotating chairmanship of the eight-nation Arctic Council in 2015. Of the eight Arctic Council nations — Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US — six have ambassador-level Arctic diplomats.

Last year, Begich introduced to Congress the US Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs Act. The legislation asked Kerry to make the appointment on economic and national security grounds. Begich's efforts to push for such a post started in 2008 when he first introduced a bill to create an Arctic ambassador, and he has reintroduced it to each Congress.

‘Important step'