Forging an Arctic Alliance: Canadian-U.S. JIATF-Arctic

Abstract

An ice-free Northwest Passage in the summer of 2007 signaled the next chapter in North American continental defense and security. Long protected by a formidable, icy environment along the high northern approach, the effects of climate change opening an Arctic maritime domain require U.S. and Canadian leadership to re-evaluate theater command and control to mitigate the growing space-force imbalance. Shared interests, limited resources, and a strong history of bi-lateral security cooperation provide the foundation for establishing a combined Canadian-U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force Arctic (CJIATF-A) to meet new national strategic objectives in the Arctic. This paper examines the operational factors supporting the creation of a bi-national combined interagency task force, develops a notional command and control organization to achieve unity of command and unity of effort. While arguments against formation of a bi-national Arctic command are considered, this paper concludes that a combined Joint Interagency Task Force Arctic (CJIATF-A) under NORAD with alternating leadership, will best enable a COCOM to address the complexities of the changing Arctic region to promote responsible growth, regional stability, and continental security.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 27, 2010
Accession Number
ADA535574

Entities

People

  • Douglas A. Bradley

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arctic Regions
  • Climate Change
  • Coast Guard
  • Command And Control
  • Environment
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Security
  • Task Forces
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Polar and Arctic Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Space