The Arctic is pretty unique. It's a place where allies like the US and Canada feud, Russia is still arguably the dominant power and the United States can casually announce a claim to an area more than twice the size of California.

But with access to Arctic resources as a draw - this unique setting is likely to see far more competition in the coming years. So let's chill a bit, and talk Arctic competition.

Note a correction - In this presentation I refer to Norway handing over presidency of the Arctic Council to Russia in 2021. Norway currently holds the presidency, Russia received it from Iceland in 2021.

Patreon:
  / perunau  

Relevant reading (incomplete):

Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
https://www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new...

Annex 2
https://www.un.org/depts/los/conventi...

Reporting on US 2023 claims
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...

Canada Arctic and Northern Policy Framework
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1...

Canada Arctic National Strategy
https://sencanada.ca/Content/Sen/Comm...

Canada launching fifth AOPS
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/...

USGC Arctic Strategic Outlook and Strategic Outlook Implementation Plans
https://www.uscg.mil/Portals/0/Images...

https://media.defense.gov/2023/Oct/25...

CRS - Changes in the Arctic
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R41153.pdf

CRS - Strategic Competition in the Arctic (statement before the House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security)
https://crsreports.congress.gov/produ...

Pre-invasion reporting on Russia's Project 10510 icebreakers
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/...

US national strategy for the Arctic
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content...

CRS - Coast Guard PSC Program
https://s3.documentcloud.org/document...

Featured images of Arctic claims:
https://www.sciencealert.com/this-map...

Russia's ECS claim
https://www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new...

CIA Icebreaker estimates
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factboo...

Reporting on Project 22220 ships
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/...

Featured report on ship needing rescue in the arctic
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...

Canadian seafloor claims
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada...

Featured image of platform
  / the-melting-arctic-a-frontier-for-fossil-f...  

Ice extent visualisation
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3213/20...

Reporting on the 2019 speech
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/cl...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pomp...

https://www.thearcticinstitute.org/re...

Denmark claiming North Pole seafloor reporting (2014)
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-w...

Caveats & Comments:

All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.

This video is not an authoritative description of international law, please consider seeking legal advice if it is relevant to you or decisions you make.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:01:09 — What Am I Talking About?
00:02:08 — Welcome To The Arctic
00:04:34 — How Do You Claim The Arctic?
00:12:01 — Why Do You Claim The Arctic?
00:17:26 — The Arctic States & Organisations
00:22:25 — Claims And Disputes
00:26:44 — Arctic Operations & Security
00:32:32 — The Players & Assets
00:46:09 — Russia, Breakers & Missed Chances
01:01:41 — Channel Update