The United States plans to invest in ensuring freedom of navigation and flights in the Arctic, the news agency TASS reports, citing Michael Carpenter, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia.

Dr. Carpenter said at a June 7 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that Russia has invested significantly in capabilities in the Arctic over the last several years and may soon be able to preclude other nations from being able to enjoy their freedom of navigation in parts of the Arctic.

"Fiscal year 2017 budget invests in the types of capabilities that will allow us [the United States] to augment our presence in the Arctic and also develop the sorts of capabilities that will help us to ensure freedom of navigation and freedom of flight for our troops in that region," Carpenter said. He also gave assurances that the United States was seeking "to preserve the Arctic as a space for cooperation on scientific issues."