Daily Dose of the 2025 Project*
July 22, 2024 – The “good” news about the melting Arctic ice
It’s Seward’s Folly
". . . Because of Alaska, the U.S. is an Arctic nation. The Arctic is a vast expanse of land and sea rich in resources including fish, minerals, and energy. For example, the region is estimated to contain 90 million barrels of oil and one-quarter of the world’s undiscovered natural gas reserves. . . .”
"The United States has several strong interests in the Arctic region. The rate of melting ice during summer months has led to increased interest not only from shipping and tourism sectors, but also from America’s global competitors, who are interested in exploiting the region’s strategic importance and accessing its bounty of natural resources."
". . . The People’s Republic of China has declared itself a “near-Arctic state,” which is an imaginary term non-existent in international discourse. The United States should work with like-minded Arctic nations, including Russia, to raise legitimate concerns about the PRC's so-called Polar Silk-Road ambitions.
A luxury ice hotel?
". . . given Greenland’s geographic proximity [to the Arctic] and its rising potential as a commercial and tourist location, the next Administration should pursue policies that enhance economic ties between the U.S. and Greenland."
Pages 189–190, Department of State, Mandate for Leadership, The Conservative Promise
*A reminder to stay calm. We can do this.
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