In remarks at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 140th commencement exercises in New London, CT, President Biden today highlighted the importance of the Arctic, the Coast Guard’s role in combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, the importance of safe maritime transit, and his support for accession to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
As to the Arctic, he called the Coast Guard “the prow of American presence in the region,” which he said is “rapidly growing in strategic importance.” In doing so, he said that the U.S. “must demonstrate our leadership and engagement, our diplomacy, and our operational skill” and “continue to model responsible maritime behavior and uphold clear rules of international agreements that will protect and steward this pristine environment and secure it for future generations…and…to protect our homeland security…”
He also cited the need for modern ice breakers and to “stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those allies and partners who share our values, including Indigenous communities who are the keepers of traditional knowledge about the Arctic waters.”
As to IUU fishing, Biden noted the Coast Guard’s role in partnering with other countries to address the issue, stating that “[w]hen distant-water fishing fleets travel thousands of miles to strip maritime resources without regard to catch regulations or internationally established economic zones, it hurts everyone.”
In addressing the importance of freedom of navigation, Biden said that “we are…adamant that these areas of the world that are the arteries of trade and shipping remain peaceful — whether that’s the South China Sea, the Arabian Gulf, and, increasingly, the Arctic.” In doing so, he called the unimpeded flow of global commerce “of vital interest to America’s foreign policy,” and noting continued support for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which he said “outlines many of the key principles to ensure that our waters of our planet are not exploited by any one nation, but are preserved for the benefit of all.”
