WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the City of Portland pursues a bid to host a meeting of the Arctic Council in 2016, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a founding member of the Arctic Caucus, yesterday sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry strongly urging him to consider the city and underscoring the important role Maine will play in Arctic activities in the years to come.

“As part of its responsibilities under the chairmanship, it is my understanding that the State Department will soon determine the locations of future Arctic Council meetings. I strongly encourage you to consider Maine, and in particular the City of Portland, as a host,” Senator King wrote in his letter. “As you know, Maine has already started to respond to the rapid changes in the Arctic. By virtue of geographic location, Maine is poised to become an eastern gateway to the region and a hub for greater trade and cooperation with other Arctic nations…Maine has turned its gaze North. From our political leaders to our private sector, we understand the importance of a changing Arctic.”

The State Department is in the process of evaluating cities in the United States to host future Arctic Council meetings and Portland is under consideration.

Last month, Senator King and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the other founding member of the Senate Arctic Caucus, traveled with Secretary of State Kerry to Iqaluit, Canada where the United States formally assumed its two-year tenure as Chair of the Arctic Council. Chairmanship of the Council presents the United States with the opportunity to demonstrate greater leadership within the region.

The complete text of the letter is below and can be read HERE:

+++

May 13, 2015

Dear Secretary Kerry,

It was a great pleasure to travel with you and Senator Murkowski to Iqaluit last month as the United States formally took over the leadership of the Arctic Council. I am hopeful for this new period of stewardship in the Arctic. Alongside the drastic changes in the Arctic come great opportunity, challenge, and responsibility, and I look forward to working with you to ensure our time leading the Arctic Council is productive. As part of its responsibilities under the chairmanship, it is my understanding that the State Department will soon determine the locations of future Arctic Council meetings. I strongly encourage you to consider Maine, and in particular the City of Portland, as a host.

As you know, Maine has already started to respond to the rapid changes in the Arctic. By virtue of geographic location, Maine is poised to become an eastern gateway to the region and a hub for greater trade and cooperation with other Arctic nations. The recent relocation of Eimskip, the Icelandic shipping company, to Portland is just one of many opportunities for cooperation between Maine and the other nations of the Arctic. Maine has turned its gaze North. From our political leaders to our private sector, we understand the importance of a changing Arctic.

Maine’s connections to the region go far beyond recent interest. From Admiral Robert Peary’s expedition to the North Pole, to the University of Maine’s cutting edge research, Maine has been involved in the Arctic for generations—a foundation for what I know will be greater cooperation and partnership with the people and nations of the Arctic. Alaska is a leader on Arctic issues, but we must recognize that we are an Arctic nation, not just a nation with an Arctic state. Recognizing this will help further the U.S. goals during our Chairmanship, as well as Alaska’s goals.

I believe an event in Maine would foster increased understanding of the region’s impacts beyond the Arctic Circle. In addition, the City of Portland offers numerous logistical advantages over other locations and is ready and able to host this type of event. Thank you for your leadership on this issue and for your consideration.

###