Denmark doubles territorial claims in Arctic

[politicus]

The Realm of Denmark now doubles its territorial claims in the Arctic Ocean N and NW of Greenland to 400.000 km2 after Canada in December last year broke an agreement to share the seabed along a centerline between the two countries.

Greenland owns all rights to minerals, oil and gas found on Danish territory in the Arctic and has urged the Danish government to increase its claims to secure a better bargaining position.

A submission with documentation has been sent to the UNCLOS-commission which will verify whether the claim is valid but has no authority to determine the border.

(UNCLOS = United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)

In 2008 the USA, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Russia signed a declaration in Illulissat in Greenland where they promised to settle all territorial and commercial disputes in the Arctic through negotiations, but with deteriorating Russian-Western relationship the Illulissat Declaration is under pressure and the Harper administration has apparently now chosen to pursue a more aggressive policy stepping up Canadas naval presence in the area and increasing Canadian claims in areas also claimed by Russia and Denmark.

From an environmentalist POV its probably good that the area remains disputed since it will delay resource extraction in the fragile area.

[politicus]

After taking office in 2006 Harper redefined Canadas Arctic policy with his new Northern Strategy emphasizing a more assertive role with larger military presence and more unilateral actions after criticizing the Grits for trying to negotiate and solve disputes amiably in international forums and all those unmanly things Liberal softies tends to do under the slogan "Use it or loose it", but recently the Canadian government has toned down its tough rhetoric, which is why the increased claim was a bit of a surprise to Danish foreign policy experts and diplomats. But apparently Canada tones down its rhetoric, while at the same time stepping up its claims and actual presence in the area.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-north/myth-versus-reality-in-stephen-harpers-northern-strategy/article16397458/?page=all