Senator Lisa Murkowski discussed Arctic Policy with Secretary of State John Kerry on February 11, in anticipation of the new role of the U.S. in Arctic world policy.
Sen. Murkowski: “It was a chance to kind of talk about the direction that the United States will take when we assume that role and again some of the challenges that will be in front of us as an Arctic nation.”
The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum,. of which the U.S. will assume the chair in April, and is comprised of eight nations with territory inside the Arctic Circle.
That chair position means the U.S. will have an opportunity to focus the world’s attention on its priorities for the Arctic.
Sen. Murkowski: “Climate is a very real issue and a pressing issue but it is not and should not be the sole focus of the United States priorities when we assume the chairmanship. I think the Secretary is very keyed in on that issue and so one of the things I reinforced with him today was to insure that when we take over as chairman that we not forget the people who live and work and raise their families in the Arctic. Those people that are looking for those economic opportunities.”
