U.S. Coast Guard monitors Russian naval vessels near Alaska's maritime border.

According to information published by the US Armed Forces on September 16, 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard encountered four Russian Federation Navy (RFN) vessels approximately 57 miles northwest of Point Hope, Alaska. The vessels were identified during a routine patrol by the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) in the Chukchi Sea.
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Russian Navy's Severodvinsk-class submarine and Steregushchiy-class frigate. (Picture source: US Coast Guard)

The Russian ships were initially seen transiting along the Russian side of the Maritime Boundary Line (MBL) before crossing into U.S. waters, approximately 30 miles into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Their movements appeared to be in response to sea ice on the Russian side, and they operated in compliance with international maritime law during their transit.

Coast Guard Cutter Stratton’s patrol was part of Operation Frontier Sentinel, a mission designed to ensure the U.S. presence is maintained in areas where strategic competitors operate. The Russian naval group consisted of a Severodvinsk-class submarine, Dolgorukiy-class submarine, Steregushchiy-class frigate, and a Seliva-class tug.

US Coast Guard

The interactions between enemy navies and the U.S. Coast Guard are shaped by the Coast Guard's dual role as both a law enforcement entity and a military service under the Department of Homeland Security. This unique position allows it to engage in a variety of operations that overlap with traditional naval missions, including maritime security, border enforcement, and support for U.S. Navy activities.

In regions like the South China Sea, where tensions run high due to territorial disputes and freedom of navigation issues, the Coast Guard has been increasingly involved alongside the Navy.

For instance, U.S. Coast Guard cutters have been deployed to participate in freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs), challenging excessive maritime claims, such as those asserted by China.

These deployments allow the Coast Guard to take on missions that complement the Navy’s focus on power projection and deterrence, while also potentially de-escalating military confrontations by presenting a non-military, law enforcement-oriented presence.

The Coast Guard also plays a critical role in countering "gray zone" tactics, where adversarial forces use civilian or paramilitary assets to challenge territorial waters without direct military confrontation.

In these cases, the Coast Guard’s authority in law enforcement helps manage confrontations that might not warrant a full military response but still threaten maritime sovereignty and security.

This approach has been particularly useful in places like East Asia, where coast guard-to-coast guard cooperation can help manage incidents involving fishing vessels or coast guard ships from adversarial nations.