Who owns the Arctic?

Tensions between Russia and the West over the Artic were ratcheted up by Russia’s announcement that it was planting its flag on the seabed as a symbolic claim on a large chunk of the Arctic Ocean.

The battle between the West and Russia over ownership of the Arctic has been brewing for years, says Jamie Doward in The Observer. Last week tensions were ratcheted up by Russia's announcement that it was sending a miniature submarine to plant its flag on the seabed as a symbolic claim on a chunk of the Arctic Ocean the size of Western Europe.

The stakes are high. The US Geological Survey estimates the ocean holds 25% of the world's undiscovered hydrocarbon fuels as well as "massive shoals of fish and strategically important shipping lanes". Melting ice means that the North West Passage, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, is now open to commercial shipping in summer. It may become viable all year. As for the oil, soaring prices ensure that drilling beneath the Arctic is no longer cost-prohibitive, says Andy McSmith in The Independent.

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