Commentary
The Arctic Coast Guard Forum:
A Welcome & Important Step
Rebecca Pincus
In October 2015, the eight Arctic states will send their heads of coast guard or equivalent official
delegation to the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where the Commandant
of the Coast Guard will host a ceremonial summit and the Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF) will
be formally launched. A terms of reference document that outlines the basic framework of the ACGF
will be finalized at the summit signatory meeting, and this will serve as the foundation for a
Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC). The MOC will become the non-binding document that
establishes the ACGF as an international body with rules and organizational responsibilities.
This moment will mark the advancement of a commitment on the part of all Arctic states to cooperate
at the operational level in the maritime Arctic. The operational level is where the rubber meets the
road: where missions are executed afloat and in port, where helicopters are scrambled, inspections
carried out, and incident response units deployed. While high-level diplomacy gets more attention, the
kind of inter-service relationship-building at the operational level promised by the ACGF can lead to
immediate benefits to Arctic communities and stakeholders.
The ACGF is a welcome step. At a time when the region is facing unprecedented challenges, including
warming that is occurring at a rapid pace, the establishment of the ACGF is a concrete sign that Arctic
nations are committed to cooperation in the North, despite other differences. Recognizing that
increasing access to the Arctic Ocean will increase the demands placed upon Arctic states for the
Rebecca Pincus is Visiting Professor at the United States Coast Guard Academy.