"To further American interests and cooperation with Allies and partners in the Arctic ... the President plans to elevate the Arctic Coordinator position by appointing an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate," deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said in a statement.
The ambassador-at-large, who has yet to be named, will advance US policy in the region, work with their diplomatic counterparts in other Arctic nations, indigenous groups and state, local, and tribal governments, federal government agencies and Congress, Patel explained.
An Arctic region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous, and cooperative is of critical strategic importance to the United States, the statement added.