Earlier Denmark announced its desire for the pole. Russia recently released a geological study claiming the ridge was part of the Asian continental shelf and therefore Russian.
Much like Danish-Canadian fights over the Arctic, this may seem pointless but never underestimate the desire to control territory and resources. This fight may also have a major affect on international travel. Flights from the Far East to the United States take the great circle route over and near the North Pole because of the international access. An aggressive Russia may one day cut off this path thus making it much more difficult and costly to send people and material across the world.
3 comments:
You make a good point about the potential transport ramifications of an aggressive Russia. The country has become increasingly assertive since Putin took office and the geological claim is the latest manifestation of this. It is even sending a mini-sub on July 28 to do a more detailed study of the sea bed. But does anybody really expect the scientists will come back dismissing the claim?
Your comments seem extremely biased.
Why is Denmark not 'aggressive' in having made claims in 2004, yet Russia is 'aggressive' in asserting its claim today, possibly in reaction to the 2004 claim by Denmark?
Try to be a little more objective and rational in your thinking.
Anonymous,
1. The aggressive word choice was in a hypothetical.
2. "Try to be a little more objective and rational in your thinking." I take it your new to the blog.
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