Sec. 5143. Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic
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There is authorized to be in the Department an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic who shall be responsible to the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, for— matters relating to the Arctic region; and such other related duties as such the Secretary may from time to time designate. The Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic shall— advance United States interests in the Arctic region; engage with foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, the Arctic Council, and other international or multilateral organizations of which the United States is a member or has observer status and which advance United States interests in the Arctic region; facilitate the development and coordination of United States foreign policy and programs in the Arctic region; coordinate with relevant offices, bureaus, and interagency partners on efforts to counter the malign influence of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in Arctic countries and Arctic multilateral fora and organizations; coordinate the diplomatic objectives with respect to the activities described in subparagraph (A), and, as appropriate, represent the United States within multilateral fora that address international cooperation and foreign policy matters in the Arctic region; help inform, in coordination with the Bureau of Economic Affairs, transnational commerce and commercial maritime transit in the Arctic region; ensure, in coordination with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, that scientific data, environmental monitoring, and scientific research cooperation is consistent with regional security planning programs and research security best practices in the Department and other relevant Federal departments and agencies; consult, as appropriate, with Arctic indigenous communities, including by ensuring equal application and full protection of laws relating to investment screening, foreign influence, and other relevant national security regulations and statutes; ensure that all actions taken to perform the duties described in this subsection are consistent with the Arctic Region Security Policy in accordance with subsection (f); and use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to encourage other countries and international multilateral organizations to support the principles of the Arctic Region Security Policy implemented pursuant to subsection (f).
The Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs is authorized to maintain continuous observation and coordination on matters related to the following: Institutions for cooperation among the Arctic countries. Scientific monitoring and research on local, regional, and global environmental issues. Responsible natural resource management and economic development. In addition to the duties and responsibilities specified in paragraphs
(1)and (2), the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs shall also carry out such other relevant duties as the Secretary may assign. The Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs shall establish and carry out a program to be known as the Arctic Watcher Program , to— monitor the Arctic region across the security, military, economic, natural resource, cyber, scientific, and political sectors in foreign countries; monitor and combat the People’s Republic of China, Russian Federation, and other malign influence campaigns across the Arctic region that impact United States national security, European security, and Indo-Pacific security that pose a threat to the rules-based order, and undermine United States interests in the region; strengthen the capacity of the United States to engage with foreign countries and regional and international organizations that are engaged in Arctic affairs; and strengthen United States energy security, cyber security, and economic interests in the Arctic, including in the critical minerals and natural resources sectors. The Secretary shall expand the number of Regional China Officer and Russia Watcher positions to include the following: At least three posts in European countries with significant interests in the Arctic region. At least one post in North American countries with significant interests in the Arctic region. One-half of the positions described in paragraph
(1)shall be part of the Regional China Officer program and one-half of such positions shall be Russia Watchers. The Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs shall notify the appropriate congressional committees upon assigning an individual to a position described in paragraph (1). The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs shall be the lead bureau for developing and implementing the Arctic Region Security Policy of the United States, in coordination with other relevant regional and functional bureaus and offices of the Department and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to advance United States national security interests. The Arctic Region Security Policy shall advance United States national security interests by assessing, developing, budgeting for, and implementing plans, policies, and actions— to bolster the diplomatic presence of the United States in Arctic countries, including through enhancements to diplomatic missions and facilities, participation in regional and bilateral dialogues that advance United States interests related to Arctic security, and coordination of United States initiatives and assistance programs across agencies to protect the national security of the United States and its allies and partners; to enhance the resilience of Arctic countries that are United States allies and partners with respect to the economic, environmental, and security effects that may result from increased accessibility of the Arctic region; to assess specific added risks to the Arctic region and Arctic countries that— are vulnerable to the changing Arctic environment; and are strategically significant to the United States; to advance principles of good governance by encouraging and cooperating with Arctic countries on collaborative approaches— to responsibly manage natural resources in the Arctic region; to share the burden of ensuring maritime safety in the Arctic region; to address challenges posed by the militarization of the Arctic region by the Russian Federation; to address growing security cooperation in the Arctic region by the Russian Federation and People’s Republic of China and the implications for United States national security interests and Arctic security; to develop multilateral policies among Arctic countries on the management of maritime transit routes through the Arctic region and work cooperatively on the transit policies for access to and transit in the Arctic Region by non-Arctic countries; and to facilitate the development of Arctic Region Security Action Plans to ensure effective implementation of the objectives identified in the Arctic Region Security Policy; to evaluate the vulnerability, security, survivability, and resiliency of United States interests in the Arctic region; to counter malign influence from the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in Arctic countries and Arctic multilateral fora, including through the exploitation or manipulation of— science and research partnerships or organizations; economic development projects in strategic sectors, including transportation, energy, and telecommunications; educational, cultural, and religious organizations; and engagements with subnational and indigenous governance structures; and to increase coordination among Arctic countries that are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on the protection of critical infrastructure, including energy, telecommunications, and scientific infrastructure. The Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs and any other personnel assigned to the Ambassador-at-Large shall not have any authority or role in decision-making on United States domestic policy issues beyond those directly related to United States foreign policy with international partners and stakeholders in the Arctic region. The Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees periodic briefings on diplomatic engagements in the Arctic. The Secretary shall disseminate guidance, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and relevant interagency partners, for the attendance and participation of United States Government officials at Arctic conferences and multilateral fora, taking into consideration— the potential for United States Government attendance to advance United States national security and foreign policy objectives; and the degree to which the organization hosting or funding a conference or other event is funded, controlled, or advances the interests of the Russian Federation or People’s Republic of China. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on Russian and Chinese malign influence in the Arctic region. The report required by paragraph
(1)shall— examine the Arctic strategies of Russia and China and the impact of such strategies on United States national security, scientific, and foreign policy interests in the Arctic region; examine Russian and Chinese cooperation in the Arctic region and implications of any such cooperation for the United States; examine the efforts of Russia and China to advance the strategic interests of such countries in the Arctic region through exploiting, manipulating, or co-opting non-governmental and international organizations in the Arctic region; provide a list of multilateral engagements and conferences attended by the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs during the reporting period and an explanation of how such engagements countered Russian and Chinese influence and advanced United States national security and foreign policy interests; examine Russian and Chinese efforts to gain control and influence over key sectors in the Arctic region, including critical minerals, energy, transportation, and fishing; assess Russian and Chinese efforts to exploit scientific and academic research in the Arctic, including through research partnerships with academic institutions in the United States and other Arctic countries; and assess the tools, resources, and funding available to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic region. The report required by paragraph
(1)shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary. The reporting requirement in this subsection shall expire on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. In this section— the term Arctic countries means those countries that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are permanent members of the Arctic Council; and the term Arctic region means— the geographic region north of the 66.56083 parallel latitude north of the equator; all the United States territory north and west of the boundary formed by the Porcupine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; all contiguous seas, including the Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and the Aleutian Chain.