By Failing to Act We Could Make Russia Much Stronger
As climate change causes the melting of ice in the Arctic, new access to coastal routes and resources are being uncovered.
Russia has already placed its flag deep underwater to claim these routes, and has made official statements about its commitment to the possibility of armed conflict over its claims to control this coastal shelf.
It is probable that Russia’s northern shelf contains vast quantities of unknown or undiscovered oil and gas reserves, which would further enrich Russia as ice caps melt.
Under international law, countries are usually granted sovereignty over the waters that occupy the outer reaches of their connecting continental shelves. The question remains, however: how much of the Arctic will Russia claim?
Russian territorial claims put the United States in a difficult situation. First, the vast resources under the arctic would promote the growth of the Russian economy, putting the US in a weaker negotiating position. Second, as arctic ices melt, passages will expand marine shipping routes. A key job of the U.S. Navy is ensuring the safety and openness of these shipping routes. More routes will force our Navy to expand the scope of its operations, and put more of our men and women into potentially dangerous situations, both from extreme weather conditions and ongoing rivalries with foreign governments.
