The US seeks influence in Russia — billion-dollar investments and control in the Arctic

The United States is actively discussing a possible $15 billion deal for the Commander Islands, located in the North Pacific Ocean, which could provoke a fierce reaction from Moscow.

According to information published by the publication Breaking Defense, these islands could become an essential component of the US strategy aimed at strengthening control over the Arctic. The main goal is to prevent the penetration of Chinese submarines into the Arctic Ocean and increase the security of sea routes in this region.

In Washington, this initiative is compared to the purchase of Alaska in 1867, which was initially met with skepticism, but later turned out to be crucial for US defense and energy policy. Similarly, the Commander Islands could become key to the US system for monitoring Arctic waters, increasing the country’s defense capabilities against possible threats from China.

The archipelago, located west of the Aleutian Ridge between the North Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea, is sparsely populated but has some humanitarian significance, as it divides Aleutian communities living in both the United States and Russia. The transfer of jurisdiction could also raise ethnocultural issues.

China is showing a growing interest in the Arctic, developing its “Polar Silk Road” project, building infrastructure in northern latitudes, and strengthening its navy, capable of performing both civilian and military functions.

Experts note that Chinese submarines, based in Qingdao, can reach the Arctic region through the Bering Strait. They are armed with JL-3 missiles, which have a range of more than 10,000 kilometers, posing a threat to cities on the East Coast of the United States. If these missile carriers reach the Atlantic, the response time to launch a missile would be reduced to less than 15 minutes.

Although such scenarios remain theoretical, experts warn that given the modernization of China’s naval forces and their activity in the region, the Arctic could become an arena for future global conflicts.