Since the beginning of the year, Chinese and Russian forces have increased incursions and surveillance in the Arctic close to Alaska. Most view these military operations as benign attempts at Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, which were routine throughout the Cold War and after. However, such ISR flights and overt training vary in provocation when viewed in light of the latest geopolitical dust-ups. The recent Ukraine war and Chinese aggression in the South Pacific provide a more sinister context to Kremlin and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) activities.
Arctic Presence Cause for Concern
Lately, there has been an increase in Chinese and Russian maritime combat training and combined exercises over and in the Bering Sea, which often penetrate the US Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) extending beyond US territorial waters. The ADIZ is a boundary arbitrarily established to identify and respond to potentially hostile aircraft. The more space in the zone, the more time is available to intercept the inbound potential threat. ADIZ borders are not regulated by treaties or an international body.
In 2024, there were 26 deliberate Russian intrusions into the Alaskan ADIZ. US Northern Command forces intercepted and escorted Moscow’s aircraft while in the area. This year so far, eight such incursions have taken place. The latest happened on Aug. 26, when, according to a North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) news release, its forces “detected and tracked an IL-20 COOT [NATO designation for the Russian intelligence-gathering aircraft] operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Zone … NORAD responded with an E-3, two F-16s, and one KC-135 tanker to positively identify the Russian aircraft in the Alaskan ADIZ.”
Though NORAD explained the Kremlin’s aircraft close to Alaska appeared to be no threat, they did represent an intensified level of scrutiny of US military activities in the Arctic. Particularly interesting is that between the first interception of a Russian military aircraft this year, on Feb. 18, and Aug. 15, there were three such ADIZ penetrations. In the weeks since President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held their summit meeting in Alaska on Aug. 15, four Russian aircraft intelligence- gathering missions have been operating in the Alaskan ADIZ. In other words, half of all Russian ISR operations in 2025 took place in the 16 days after Trump and Putin met.
This increase could just be Putin’s answer to Trump’s demonstration of US airpower to open their summit meeting with a fly-by of a B-2 Spirit strategic stealth bomber flanked by two F-22 Raptors as the two world leaders walked together on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The increase in ISR operations by Putin may be telling the United States, Russia can fight an intense war in Ukraine, be a presence in the Mediterranean, and still commit a formidable effort to keep informed on what the US is up to in the Arctic.
The combination of Moscow and Beijing working in collaboration in the Arctic has become increasingly significant. According to the Global Times, the CCP’s media outlet:
“Diesel-electric submarines of the Chinese and Russian navies have conducted a joint patrol in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time earlier this month, Russian media reported on [Aug. 27], citing a statement by Russia’s Pacific Fleet. A Chinese expert said that the joint patrol displayed the two navies’ underwater interoperability.”
Two submarines participated in a combined Russia-Chinese exercise called Joint Sea 2025. When the training operation concluded, the two underwater craft took up a patrol route in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Russian and People’s Liberation Army navies working together to perfect coordination maneuvers with submarines is cause for concern. The National Interest observed, “China’s and Russia’s newly intensified naval partnership could embolden China in the South China Sea, where submarine activity is already intense. The US Indo-Pacific Command has increased anti-submarine surveillance, deploying assets like the Virginia-class submarines and P-8 aircraft.” These combined operations are not just a current one-off activity. Real Clear Defense republished a US Naval Institute story, “Russian and Chinese Warships Operated Near Alaska, Say Senators.” That was two years ago. The article explained, “A joint Russian and Chinese flotilla sailed near Alaska and the Aleutian Islands earlier this week.”
China’s Influence Operations Concerning
Subsequent coverage by the Department of Defense (DOD) in a report, “China Increasing Interest in Strategic Arctic Region,” referenced comments made by former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience Iris A. Ferguson: “Just this past summer [2024], right after we released our department [Arctic] strategy, we saw a joint [Russia-China] bomber patrol off the coast of Alaska.”
Russian and Chinese operations are troubling when they happen independently. However, the increase in Moscow-Beijing collaborations presents a serious threat. Both countries have designs on the Arctic. If not persuaded otherwise, they will intensify their efforts to acquire a greater presence.
The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliate.
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