Russia’s Polar Sea Grab
Will Arctic be next “Cold War” conflict?
I am in sunny Nova Scotia to moderate a panel of three-day Halifax International Security Forum on a fascinating national security issue brought on by global warming, the prospect that melting polar ice cap will open the Arctic up to military and commercial shipping.
When I was kid it seemed like every forecast for future global disaster centered around the melting of the polar ice caps, which we were told would raise sea levels and flood all the world’s coastal regions. Instead it’s opening a major shipping lane along the northwest passage route first navigated by Raold Amundsen more than 100 years ago.
NASA Images shows wide open Northwest Passage Aug 22, 2007
NASA photos show the sea lane was “wide open” in the late summer of 2007 and again in August of 2008. Some experts are even predicting the arctic may be ice-free in the summer months by 2030.
The two-decade trend of shrinking polar ice pack now raises significant new issues for an area that when it was just a big ice chunk, was peaceful and conflict free with it opportunity as well as potential problems. For one thing the annual summer thaw is heating up the already tense relations between the United States and Russia.
In 2007 Russia laid claim to parts of the Arctic seabed, and is now busily mapping the area to seal its claim.
What’s a stake? Huge stocks of fish could lure commercial fishing. The Arctic has some of the world largest remaining un tapped oil and gas reserves.
Robert Gates, Halifax, Nov 20, 2009 — LOD Photo
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was here in Halifax for the opening session, and he fired a warning shot across Moscow’s bow. “Even as the U.S. “resets” relations with Russia,” Gates said, “We will work with Canada to ensure that increased Russian activity in the Arctic does not lead to miscalculation or unnecessary friction.”
Who owns the Arctic resources? How will the international community, including the “Arctic nations,” the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, protect the environment, and divide the potential spoils?
Sen. John McCain, who like to go “toe to to with the Ruskies,” This is one of those issues that has been under the radar, but what is done, the mutual cooperation, or lack of, can lead to significan tension unless we work this out.”
One thing seems certain. The melting polar ice will result in a flood of new military and commercial activity in what was one a vast wilderness.
Tags: Arctic, Gates, Halifax Forum, Russia
