Rush for Arctic's resources provokes territorial tussles

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/06/arctic-resources-territorial-dispute

Two nations on opposite sides of the Nato military alliance divide – Russia and Norway – have signed a deal over who owns what in the Barents Sea. But there are plenty of other territorial tussles going on – some between good friends.

The United States and Canada still disagree on the setting of the boundaries in the Beaufort Sea – an area of intense interest to oil drillers.

Similarly, Canada has yet to resolve a dispute with Denmark over the ownership of Hans Island and where the control line should be drawn in the strait between Greenland (whose sovereignty remains with Denmark) and Ellesmere Island.

But of even greater significance in a world of melting ice floes is control of the North West Passage. Canada insists that it has sovereignty over the sea route and therefore must be asked about usage. The US sees it as a potential area of open water which gives it automatic right of passage for its battleships.

[RC]

1. Looking at a map, Canada does seem to have sovereignty over most of the route.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, xchrom.

[xchrom]

3. Sure thing. Nt