Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin meet in Kazan, Russia. (Reuters/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
When incursions occur, U.S. aircraft are dispatched from bases as far as 1,000 miles away, including Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, a logistical stretch similar to sending New York City responders to a fire in Chicago.
The Nome port, Adak base and other new infrastructure will slash response times, increase defensive presence and keep America safer, he said.
"We are the Arctic part of America, but we're America. And when our adversaries are pressing into us, we need to respond with force and infrastructure and capabilities. Our military's doing it. We're building that up with the Coast Guard, with the Air Force, with the Army," he said.
TRUMP EYES ACTION ON GREENLAND, SETTING UP WHITE HOUSE FACE-OFF WITH DENMARK
A map provided by Getty Images shows the various Arctic military bases. (Getty Images)
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The dynamic is also shaping global geopolitics, he said, as NATO shifts toward an "Arctic-capable alliance" — with allies Finland, Sweden and Norway similarly cognizant of the threats. Finland and Sweden recently joined NATO, he noted, which has been key to this situation.
Looking at the globe from above — rather than straight on — places the U.S., Canada and Scandinavia directly across from Russia and, increasingly, China, which has declared itself a "Near-Arctic power."
Fox News Digital's Kiera McDonald contributed to this report.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/they-were-spying-sullivan-sounds-alarm-joint-russia-china-moves-us-arctic-zone