Air Force Gen. Victor Renuart Jr., commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, told defense reporters in Washington Wednesday that he favors a “whole relook” at US Arctic policy, saying the current strategy in the region is “outdated” and does not reflect the developments and interests that are converging today at the top of the world. Renuart said there’s been an increase in traffic in the region, as shelf ice melts and opens up long inaccessible corridors to exploration and territorial disputes for reputed oil and gas deposits. NORAD has been active in trying to build a dialogue with the Russian military, as Russia has ramped up its power projection and training activities in the arctic. (Also read Strategic Alaska from the November Air Force Magazine). “Any time nations converge on an area to either compete for or to collectively mine natural resources, there is a possibility… that their interests will not coincide,” he said. Both Chinese and South Korean research ships have been active in arctic waters and commercial cruise vessels are now a more frequent sight, which dictates development of a search and rescue capability to serve the newly accessible areas.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
