The report by the National Academy of Sciences warned that climate change could upset the delicate security balance in the Arctic - even among close allies - and that America is unprepared for the challenges ahead.
"The US military as a whole has lost most of its competence in cold-weather operations for Arctic weather," the report, National Security Implications of Climate Change for US Naval Forces, warned. "In the immediate term, the navy should begin Arctic training and the marine corps should also establish a cold weather training programme."
The report warned that America was currently unprepared to defend its interests in the Arctic. Current submarine sytems would be challenged to operate in the Arctic, the report warned. In addition, the coastguard has just three ice breakers, and these are old and obsolete. Read the full report here.
Source: Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent, guardian.co.uk.
