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U.S. Ready to Fight for Arctic Wealth
Expedient ratification of 1982 treaty that establishes guidelines for maritime boundaries “is a top priority for us,” said the State Department’s top lawyer John Bellinger, The U.S. Today reported.
”We’ve been watching as other countries are actively pursuing their own interests,” Bellinger announced specifying that the United States may claim coastal area of Alaska extending to the Arctic Ocean by 600 miles. But to stake the claim, the United States first has to ratify the UN convention on maritime law, Bellinger pointed out.
Admiral Thad Allen, who is the Coast Guard commander, confirmed that the treaty is “absolutely critical” for the country and will boost its efforts for law enforcement by specifying rules and jurisdiction.
According to U.S. Geological Survey, the Arctic seabed holds up to 25 percent of global crude oil/natural gas reserves and decreasing ice of the Arctic and subsequent emergence of new economic opportunities led to the fierce competition of bordering Russia, the United States, Canada, Island, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
What’s more, Moscow claims 460,000 sq miles in the Arctic, saying the area continues Russia’s continental shelf. Senator Richard Lugar cautioned that if the Congress refuses to ratify the treaty, Russia could grab potential reserves of the Arctic, the access to which will be easier along with global warming of the Earth’s climate.
www.kommersant.com
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