Russia and China's mounting Arctic partnership has led to a rise in joint military operations between the two nations and transformed the region into a hybrid activity "hot spot" in need of investment, a senior Defense Department official said Thursday. A few years ago, access to the Arctic was thought of as one of Russia’s coveted “crown jewels,” something the country wouldn’t give up easy, said Iris Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Arctic and global resilience. But in...
