Russia Threatens to Seize Part of Supposedly Oil-Rich Arctic

Ever since the energy crisis began and evidence of global warming forced politicians around the world to consider the future more carefully, five countries have been fighting over control of an area of the world still thought to be rich with oil and natural gas: the Arctic.  This week, Russia threatened to claim part of the Arctic for themselves despite the dispute over who really owns it.  Russian president Dmitry Medvedev told a meeting of the Security Council that Russia must “finalise and adopt a federal law on the southern border of Russia’s Arctic zone”, saying it was their responsibility to their descendants to secure the country’s interests in the Arctic.

From The Telegraph:

Last August, a Russian mini-submarine carrying politicians and scientists plunged to the depths of the Arctic and claimed to plant a Russian flag to mark Moscow’s stake in the territory.

Footage of the alleged planting was widely broadcast on Russian television – but later turned out to be images taken from the Hollywood blockbuster Titanic.

Under international law, each of the five countries that lay claim to the Arctic own a 320-kilometre zone that extends north from their shores. That arrangement is up for UN review in May next year.

Vladimir Putin, now Russia’s prime minister, has said global warming is good for Russia – melting its vast icy territories to reveal previously inaccessible oil and gas reserves.

Sounds like a good old fashioned super power war is brewing… over resources.  How fun.  Russia isn’t exactly know for playing well with others, and considering that many countries are desperate for oil (despite the fact that what we should be focusing on is clean alternative energy sources), Russia’s oil-fueled power will likely continue to grow.

Link [The Telegraph]
Photo credit: Reuters

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