Preventing an Arctic Cold War
▻http://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/dark-side-of-natural-resources/oil-and-natural-gas-in-conflict/52344-preventing-an-arctic-cold-war.html?itemid=id#40284
While the Arctic Ocean used to be covered in ice year round, most of the ocean is now open during the summer months due to global warming. This unexpected transformation has heightened countries’ stakes over oil, gas, hydrocarbon deposits, and fishing rights in the region. Companies such as ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell are preparing to exploit the oil reserves which have been formally negotiated between states. However, there has been little effort to develop legal mechanisms in the areas of commercial harvesting and water ownership, which could spark conflict in the future. The last few years have seen a military buildup in the area, despite any formal explanations for the deployment of military personnel. The Artic Council, comprised of eight Artic nations, has identified interests that are common to all members. Yet this forum has failed to undertake the creation of new laws to govern the region, or to reflect on how to maintain the peace should disputes arise. If peace and demilitarization are too sensitive a topic to be discussed in the forum at present, then there is little hope that cooperation will be achieved once conflicts arise.