As the Arctic opens to more economic activity – and countries like Russia and China seek to fill the void – Washington officials worry about the lack of U.S. preparedness.

Concerns over a shifting security situation could finally be earning the Arctic more attention among Washington insiders, if a series of recent congressional hearings are an indication.

“In the past 10 years, we have seen the Russians move dramatically, and actually in the past year even more so,” said Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski during a May budget appropriations hearing. “And yet, our U.S. Arctic strategy has yet to evolve to this changing dynamic.”

Russia, said Murkowski, is positioning itself to control the Arctic — from its resources to its sea lanes — which would have lasting effects on global security.

“I am reluctantly coming to the impression that the Department of Defense does not have a coherent vision for addressing America’s defense interests in the changing Arctic,” Murkowski said. Read more at ArcticToday.