The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Wednesday approved moving forward with the nomination of Dr. Michael Sfraga, a geographer with a career working on issues pertaining to the Arctic, as the U.S. ambassador-at-large to the polar region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sfraga, who would be the first to serve in the newly created<\/a> position if confirmed by the full Senate, would be tasked with promoting American interests in the area during a time when Russia and China are also seeking to build up Arctic<\/a> military capabilities. Sfraga\u2019s past travels to the near-peer adversaries, however, have raised some eyebrows in Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Arctic is undergoing profound change,\u201d Sfraga said earlier this month<\/a> before the committee, noting that Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine has rendered cooperation difficult and that China is increasing its presence in the region in moves that threaten U.S. interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this month, Gen. Gregory Guillot, the head of U.S. Northern Command, similarly warned lawmakers on Capitol Hill<\/a> about such activities, including a Russian exercise and a Chinese maritime mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked about working with the new NATO members Finland and Sweden<\/a>, Arctic allies who the U.S. would be obligated to support in the event of a confrontation, Sfraga affirmed that in the role he would inform conversations to strengthen the growing alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\t