The United States is challenging Canadian sovereignty in six other areas of the Arctic, including the Northwest Passage.
If sea ice continues to thin due to climate change, the Northwest Passage will eventually open up as a major shipping route. More and more, the U.S. and other countries believe that the Arctic waters are international waters -- as is the case in the Antarctic.
The article cites some efforts now being made to patrol the Arctic, which certainly helps matters somewhat.
But as few as one or two successful trips through the Northwest Passage by other states could take away Canada's sovereignty under international law, effectively gutting any capacity to monitor environmental compliance by foreign ships. In turn, foreign use of the Passage might lead to settlements which could come under foreign control, ultimately undermining Canada's authority over the Arctic.
I'm not a hawk on most military issues, but the stakes in this one are massive, and Canada's general knowledge of the problem is sorely lacking. The current steps are a start, but they're far from enough...and Hans Island, while perhaps worth paying attention to, shouldn't be the top story among northern issues.
(Edit: typo.)
No comments:
Post a Comment