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Irregular warfare is no longer a peripheral concern in the Arctic; it’s central to how competitors are shaping the region’s future. That was the focus of “Grey Zone Competition in the Arctic,” the latest Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies alumni event, held virtually Sept. 23. The session examined how hybrid tactics are undermining governance, testing resilience, and challenging U.S. influence in the Arctic.
Featuring guest speaker, Dr. James Derleth, who previously served as the founding director of the Irregular Warfare and Hybrid Threats Program at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, the session explored how adversaries are leveraging cyber intrusions, disinformation campaigns, legal manipulation, and economic coercion to operate in the “grey zone,” the ambiguous space between peace and war where attribution is difficult and conventional deterrence tools are often ineffective.
“The Arctic is emerging as one of the most strategically contested regions in the world,” said U.S. Army Maj. Stephen Gagnon, the event’s moderator and a TSC Arctic Fellow. “Great power competition is increasingly employing coercive tactics below the threshold of armed conflict.”
Although the Arctic remains free from direct military conflict, competitors are using irregular methods to shape strategic conditions. Examples include targeting Arctic communities with false narratives, launching cyberattacks on systems, conducting surveillance disguised as science or tourism, and contesting control of resources and sea lanes through legal grey areas.
These hybrid tactics are low-cost and difficult to attribute but can have significant strategic effects—disrupting infrastructure, degrading public trust, and shaping public perception without triggering a military response.
The discussion highlighted the limits of traditional deterrence when confronting non-kinetic threats and emphasized need for a comprehensive approach to Arctic security. This includes not just military readiness, but civil preparedness, public-private coordination, and integration of local partners into broader resilience strategies.
“In Arctic defense, Indigenous and local partnerships can serve as resilience enablers,” Gagnon said. “These networks can enable domain awareness and act as early warning systems—particularly in regions where infrastructure is limited and distances are vast.”
Conducted under Chatham House Rule, the event allowed for open dialogue among U.S. and allied alumni across the defense, government, and academic sectors. Participants discussed the strategic challenges posed by hybrid threats in the Arctic, including how to build resilience, integrate nonmilitary actors, and adapt deterrence frameworks to counter coercive actions below the threshold of armed conflict.
The event underscored the value of the TSC Alumni Program as a platform for professional military education and knowledge-sharing among Arctic-focused security practitioners and warfighters.
“We really appreciate you all being here, and we hope to keep this conversation going,” said Wesley Moerbe, the center’s alumni relations specialist. “This is exactly the kind of professional dialogue and exchange we’re aiming to promote through the Alumni Program.”
The session is part of the center’s growing alumni engagement program, which provides continuing education opportunities for security practitioners operating in or focused on the Arctic region. It also aligns with the Department of War’s broader priorities of reestablishing deterrence, rebuilding our military, and defending the homeland in the face of emerging threats.
The next virtual alumni event is tentatively scheduled for December 2025. For updates, resources, and future event details, visit the TSC website and alumni page at: https://tedstevensarcticcenter.org/alumni/ or log into GlobalNET.
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2025 21:14 |
| Story ID: | 549787 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 64 |
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