Superpower contests questons
1. Describe the reasons for and nature of territorial disputes in the arctc.
- The land border between two countries in its dispute (India and Pakistan)
- The ownership of a landmass is in dispute (the Falklands uk and Argentna)
- The extent of a natonns ofshore exclusive economic zone is in dispute or claimed by another
naton.
- Exclusive economic zone is a sea zone prescribed by the United Natons conservaton on the
law of the sea over which a state has special rights regarding the exploitaton and use of
marine resources, including energy producton from water and wind, it stretches from the
baseline out to 200 miles from its coast.
2. How has this been refected militarily in the Arctc reeionn?
2002- Canada recommended military exercises in the Arctc that are now conducted annually.
2003- Norway built Fridtjof Nansen class frigates (war ships).
2007 - A Russian submarine controversially planted a fag on the Lomonosov ridge, claiming it
was linked directly to the Russian contnental shelf. However, Canada and the USA didnnt accept
it as legitmate.
2009- USA released its Natonal Arctc policy placing arctc security as the number one priority.
Denmark published plans to create both an Arctc military command and an Arctc response
team.
2012- Chinese ice breaker, the Xuelong, navigated the northern sea route for the frst tme.
3. What mieht be the politcal and environmental risks involved with the increased arctc oil
+ eas productonn?
- Global warming makes the arctc increasingly accessible to shipping for longer periods of the
year, and oil and mineral exploraton becomes easier.
- As oil reserves elsewhere run out, Arctc oil will look increasingly temptng.
- In theory, the UN will decide whose claims stand and whose do not.
- Three of the partes in dispute have nuclear weapons (Russia, USA, EU).
- In 2007, the Russians used a sub to place a Russian fag on the sea bed at the North Pole
which infamed tensions.
- Since the number of ‘scientfcn expeditons to the Arctc has increased, as countries seek to
have a greater presence in the area.
- Both Russia and Canada have created dedicated ‘arctc forcesn to protect their interests.
1. Describe the reasons for and nature of territorial disputes in the arctc.
- The land border between two countries in its dispute (India and Pakistan)
- The ownership of a landmass is in dispute (the Falklands uk and Argentna)
- The extent of a natonns ofshore exclusive economic zone is in dispute or claimed by another
naton.
- Exclusive economic zone is a sea zone prescribed by the United Natons conservaton on the
law of the sea over which a state has special rights regarding the exploitaton and use of
marine resources, including energy producton from water and wind, it stretches from the
baseline out to 200 miles from its coast.
2. How has this been refected militarily in the Arctc reeionn?
2002- Canada recommended military exercises in the Arctc that are now conducted annually.
2003- Norway built Fridtjof Nansen class frigates (war ships).
2007 - A Russian submarine controversially planted a fag on the Lomonosov ridge, claiming it
was linked directly to the Russian contnental shelf. However, Canada and the USA didnnt accept
it as legitmate.
2009- USA released its Natonal Arctc policy placing arctc security as the number one priority.
Denmark published plans to create both an Arctc military command and an Arctc response
team.
2012- Chinese ice breaker, the Xuelong, navigated the northern sea route for the frst tme.
3. What mieht be the politcal and environmental risks involved with the increased arctc oil
+ eas productonn?
- Global warming makes the arctc increasingly accessible to shipping for longer periods of the
year, and oil and mineral exploraton becomes easier.
- As oil reserves elsewhere run out, Arctc oil will look increasingly temptng.
- In theory, the UN will decide whose claims stand and whose do not.
- Three of the partes in dispute have nuclear weapons (Russia, USA, EU).
- In 2007, the Russians used a sub to place a Russian fag on the sea bed at the North Pole
which infamed tensions.
- Since the number of ‘scientfcn expeditons to the Arctc has increased, as countries seek to
have a greater presence in the area.
- Both Russia and Canada have created dedicated ‘arctc forcesn to protect their interests.
