US Marine Corps launches Campaign-Alaska initiative

US Marines are shown here conducting Arctic operations in Norway. Marines are now bolstering their Alaskan Arctic operations. (Michael Fabey)

The US Marine Corps (USMC) detailed its recently initiated Campaign-Alaska effort, which combines two key efforts — the Marine Rotational Force - Alaska (MRF-Alaska) and establishing a Supporting Arms Liaison Team - Alaska (SALT-Alaska) — in a 9 May public statement.

Campaign-Alaska is a strategic initiative meant to enhance marine corps operational capabilities in the Arctic, USMC officials said.

The entire Arctic and US northern flank is becoming a geostrategic region for the nation, and the Pentagon has been bolstering its forces and operations in those latitudes.

“The 2026 National Defense Strategy prioritises key terrain in the Western Hemisphere from the Arctic to South America as vital for homeland defence and strategic competition,” USMC officials said.

Arctic shipping traffic increased 37% between 2013 and 2024 across the wider Arctic, according to Arctic Council/PAME data. There has also been an increase in Chinese and Russian military vessels in Alaskan waters – even operating together, US Coast Guard (USCG) Vice Admiral Nathan Moore, deputy commandant for Operations, said during the 20 April panel.

“What we see as the big difference are those Russian and Chinese vessels operating in US waters,” said Vice Adm Moore, who previously had been the commander of the 17th Coast Guard District where he was responsible for USCG operations throughout Alaska, the North Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Bering Sea. The USCG operates the only persistent naval forces and basing facilities in the US Alaskan Arctic region.