MARITIME SECURITY
SPECIAL REPORT: Non-Military Factors Shape Arctic Power Balance
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This is part 2 of a 2-part special report on the Pentagon’s Arctic strategy.
Establishing a military presence is only one side of the coin to gaining influence in the Arctic region, according to one analyst. Besides establishing a military presence, there are also economic and diplomatic factors that must be taken into consideration.
For example, most of China’s focus in the region is based on economics, said Victoria Herrmann, president and managing director of the Arctic Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. The country has made significant investments in shipping and transportation infrastructure in areas such as Iceland and Greenland, she noted.
“I wouldn’t consider China to be a military threat in the Arctic,” she said. “All of that is very much focused on economic potential and not on any form of military engagement.”
Additionally, much of the ice is melting in places that fall within Russian territory. Because of this, the United States has limited say in operations around important areas such as the Northern Sea Route, she said.
In addition to fielding icebreakers, the U.S. could extend its influence by making a scientific claim to an area beyond its exclusive economic zone with a continental shelf extension, she noted. This means the United States could extend the seabed in which it has the sovereign right to minerals and oil. But this would require signing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, which Washington has yet to do, she noted.
“The U.S. not only has a limited engagement in anything within Russian waters and the Northern Sea Route, but it also has a limited engagement in what they can do beyond its own 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone,” she said.
However, it is unlikely that the United States will decide to sign the UNCLOS pact, she noted.
“Arctic advocates like Sen. Lisa Murkowski have continuously tried to champion becoming a signatory,” she said, referring to the Republican lawmaker from Alaska. However, “it hasn’t gotten much traction with a Republican majority,” Herrmann added.
Additionally, during a May meeting with the Arctic Council, the United States did not sign an agreement meant to establish a sustainable way of managing the region to counter global warming.
“That is seen as weak in the Arctic,” Herrmann said. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo reportedly declined to sign the agreement over disagreements regarding global warming.
This means “that we are seen as a non-cooperating power and that we don’t have as much influence in those forums because we aren’t seen as a good strategic partner as we have been in the past,” Herrmann said.
Part 1: Great Power Competition Extends to Arctic
Topics: Global Defense Market, International, Maritime Security, Shipbuilding, Navy News
True, the pursuit of Arctic resources is what is driving the quest for the Arctic exploration and militarization and that doesn’t mean starting World War III up by the North Pole. But will Russia and China have the same environmental standards for clean water, cleaning up any spills and pollutants, or enforcing fishing from their own people? Would they enforce anti-poaching since one country is known to eat all sorts of animals compared to Western standards? One can see through their involvement around other parts of the world if they have a "clean" record. While many won't object to what they mine and harvest in their own backyard territory, the issues come when they start to encroach on other nations’ Arctic waters such as testing of nuclear weapons and reactors that can contaminate the entire Arctic Ocean or the invasion of non-native species through ballast ship water dumping. Furthermore, the idea of Russia or China rescuing a Western cruise ship might seem plausible, but also embarrassing and somewhat awkward given the language barriers. A runaway Arctic ecosystem might be a scare for all nations involved. If our Eskimos complain about the spoiling of the pristine North, how will Washington DC respond when it comes to National Security vs. Environmental Laws and Conditions?
Peter at 12:27 PMOther nations are entirely "For Profit" and might see the Arctic resources as a bonanza of wealth. This is what needs to be monitored and enforced, even if by Show of Force sometimes. Another nation should not have to clean the mining mess left over by their irresponsible neighbors after they harvested everything of value and get stuck with the bills.