Intel / Middle East
Understanding Arctic Territorial Claims
The Lomonosov Ridge is a crucial underwater mountain range in the Arctic, central to territorial claims by Denmark, Russia, and Canada. The United States seeks to exert influence through Denmark due to its inability to make direct claims. Gaining control over the Lomonosov Ridge could enable a country to extend its continental shelf to the North Pole, providing access to valuable natural resources and reshaping geopolitical relations.
Source material: Why Greenland is only the beginning
Summary
The Lomonosov Ridge is a crucial underwater mountain range in the Arctic, central to territorial claims by Denmark, Russia, and Canada. The United States seeks to exert influence through Denmark due to its inability to make direct claims. Gaining control over the Lomonosov Ridge could enable a country to extend its continental shelf to the North Pole, providing access to valuable natural resources and reshaping geopolitical relations.
The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf manages the scientific process for nations seeking to extend their continental shelves, which is essential for claiming Arctic natural resources. Russia, Canada, and Denmark are in a territorial dispute over the Lomonosov Ridge, believed to contain significant undiscovered crude oil and natural gas reserves.
Greenland is essential to Denmark's territorial claims in the Arctic, as its status directly influences these claims. The U.S. aims to acquire Greenland to gain rights to continental shelf claims and access to its natural resources, using military power to support these ambitions.
Russia is strengthening its Arctic military presence with over 40 installations and a fleet of 45 icebreakers, establishing itself as a key player in the region. The United States considers Greenland a vital asset to counterbalance Russian influence in the Arctic, as it is the only nation capable of matching Russia's military capabilities there.
Perspectives
short
Denmark and Canada
- Claim the Lomonosov Ridge as part of their territories based on scientific evidence
- Seek to extend their continental shelves to access Arctic resources
Russia
- Assert territorial claims over the Lomonosov Ridge with historical and scientific backing
- Strengthen military presence in the Arctic to support its claims
Neutral / Shared
- Current economic viability of Arctic resource extraction remains low
Metrics
other
370 kilometers km
exclusive economic zones of coastal nations in the Arctic
This distance defines the extent of economic rights for Arctic nations
exclusive economic zones that stretch up to 370 kilometers from their shores
other
1.2 million square kilometers
Russia's territorial claim in 2015
This claim reflects Russia's strategic interests in the Arctic region
The Russians then made a second bid in 2015 with new evidence supporting a territorial claim of 1.2 million square kilometers.
other
22%
Estimated undiscovered crude oil and natural gas in the Arctic
This percentage indicates the potential wealth of resources in the Arctic, influencing geopolitical strategies
An assessment by the US Geological Survey estimates that about 22% of the world's undiscovered crude oil and natural gas sits in the Arctic Circle.
other
40%
territory of Canada in the Arctic Circle
This highlights Canada's significant stake in Arctic sovereignty
about 40% of its territory sitting in the Arctic Circle.
other
45 units
Russia's fleet of icebreakers
A robust icebreaker fleet enhances Russia's operational capabilities in the Arctic
It also has 45 icebreakers, of which 37 are diesel electric and 8 are nuclear powered.
Key entities
Timeline highlights
00:00–05:00
The Lomonosov Ridge is a significant underwater mountain range in the Arctic, central to territorial claims by Denmark, Russia, and Canada. The United States seeks to exert influence through Denmark due to its inability to make direct claims.
- The Lomonosov Ridge is a crucial underwater mountain range in the Arctic, central to territorial claims by Denmark, Russia, and Canada, while the United States seeks to exert influence through Denmark due to its inability to make direct claims
- Gaining control over the Lomonosov Ridge could enable a country to extend its continental shelf to the North Pole, providing access to valuable natural resources and reshaping geopolitical relations
- The Arctics extreme environment poses challenges for monitoring and control, with limited satellite coverage and unreliable navigation complicating surveys of areas like the Lomonosov Ridge
- Sparc AI, a company focused on autonomous drone technology, aims to operate in difficult environments such as the Arctic and has recently announced a partnership to deploy its technology in Ukraine
- Scientific exploration of the Lomonosov Ridge is impeded by harsh conditions, necessitating extensive surveys and physical samples to substantiate territorial claims, which is both time-consuming and costly
05:00–10:00
The Lomonosov Ridge is a focal point of territorial claims among Denmark, Russia, and Canada, with significant implications for Arctic natural resources. The United States seeks to influence these claims through Denmark due to its inability to make direct assertions.
- The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf manages the scientific process for nations seeking to extend their continental shelves, which is essential for claiming Arctic natural resources
- Russia, Canada, and Denmark are in a territorial dispute over the Lomonosov Ridge, believed to contain significant undiscovered crude oil and natural gas reserves
- Russia has made several claims to the Lomonosov Ridge, including a recent one in 2023, while Canada and Denmark also assert that the ridge is part of their territories, complicating legal claims
- Denmarks claim encompasses nearly 900,000 square kilometers, arguing that the Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of Greenland, though political changes in Greenland may impact the claims strength
- The United States, unable to make direct claims to the Lomonosov Ridge, may seek to exert influence through Denmark, underscoring the strategic significance of Arctic territorial disputes
10:00–15:00
Greenland is crucial for Denmark's territorial claims in the Arctic, as its status directly influences these claims. The United States aims to acquire Greenland to gain rights to continental shelf claims and access to its natural resources.
- Greenland is essential to Denmarks territorial claims in the Arctic, as its status directly influences these claims
- The U.S. aims to acquire Greenland to gain rights to continental shelf claims and access to its natural resources, using military power to support these ambitions
- Control over the seabed is primarily about resource management, although the current economic viability of extracting Arctic oil and gas is low
- The North Pole is significant for national identity and policy for Denmark, Canada, and Russia, all of whom are competing for territorial claims in the region
- Denmarks claim to the North Pole is linked to its backing of Greenland, while Canada and Russia also regard Arctic sovereignty as crucial for national prestige and strategic interests
15:00–20:00
The Lomonosov Ridge is a focal point of territorial claims among Denmark, Russia, and Canada, with significant implications for Arctic natural resources. The United States seeks to influence these claims through Denmark due to its inability to make direct assertions.
- Russia is strengthening its Arctic military presence with over 40 installations and a fleet of 45 icebreakers, establishing itself as a key player in the region
- The United States considers Greenland a vital asset to counterbalance Russian influence in the Arctic, as it is the only nation capable of matching Russias military capabilities there
- Denmarks Arctic claims are closely tied to Greenland, which acts as a crucial gateway for asserting its territorial rights, including those over the North Pole
- Canadas identity in the Arctic is linked to its territorial claims, with recent political moves to include the North Pole reflecting a desire for national prestige
- The competing claims of Denmark, Canada, and Russia over the North Pole underscore the geopolitical importance of Arctic sovereignty and the potential for changing alliances