U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Fritz has proposed buying the Commander Islands from Russia in order to monitor China’s activities in the Arctic region.
He outlined the idea in his article for the Breaking Defense portal.
“The proposal is for the U.S. to purchase the Commander Islands from Russia for $15 billion in order to monitor possible underwater activity from China as it attempts to penetrate the Arctic Ocean,” Fritz wrote.
He believes that such a deal would “enhance U.S. security” and “affirm American leadership” in the Arctic. According to him, the purchase of Alaska was once considered unnecessary, but today it is a key element of American energy and defense strategy.
Fritz expressed concerns about the growing Chinese presence in the Arctic, including investments in the region as part of the Polar Silk Road maritime trade project.
Specifically, he pointed out that Chinese submarines, such as the Jin and Tang-class, could theoretically pass into the Arctic through the Bering Strait and operate under the Arctic ice, where detection is difficult. Armed with ballistic missiles, they pose a threat to U.S. cities like New York and Washington.
Acquiring the Commander Islands, which are located along this route, would allow the U.S. to set up a platform for underwater surveillance systems monitoring Chinese submarines, according to the U.S. military officer.
The Commander Islands, located at the maritime crossroads between North America and Asia, are gaining increasing geopolitical significance as Arctic shipping routes expand and regional powers, including China, show growing interest in the northern Pacific and the Arctic. One of the main geophysical advantages of the Commander Islands is the relatively low ice cover.
This feature is strategically important because ice masses can scatter or absorb underwater acoustic signals, reducing detection accuracy. The thinner ice layer creates more stable acoustic conditions around the Commander Islands, making them an ideal site for continuous, high-precision underwater monitoring.
