Posted on 07/03/2010 1:00:22 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Russia is launching an expedition to map the extent of the country's arctic continental shelf as part of an effort to extend its influence, officials say.
In 2001 Russia filed a request to extend its continental shelf border beyond the standard 200-mile limit, a request turned down by the United Nations for lack of evidence to support the claim, RIA Novosti reported Friday.
Russia says it will spend $50 million to explore and define the extent of its continental shelf to support its request.
Seventy-five expedition members will board a ship in the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk in mid-July for a journey expected to take three months, including about 75 days in the arctic, RIA Novosti said.
Vast oil and gas deposits, which could be more accessible as rising global temperatures lead to a reduction in sea ice, have led to geopolitical wrangling among representatives of the United States, Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark.
Each of the Arctic Circle countries has a 200-mile exclusive economic zone in the Arctic Ocean under international law.
But if a country can prove its continental shelf extends beyond the 200-mile limit, it can claim a right to more of the ocean floor, RIA Novosti reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
How could Russia possibly claim St. Lawrence Island and the Seward Peninsula as their territory?
If the US did the same gambit, we could claim that Cuba is ours, since it’s within that distance and on the same continental plate (I think).
don’t forget Copper, Sea Otter Rock, and Sea Lion Rock that are part of the Aleutian islands. Clinton gave them away like there were nothing.
The US really is in decay if we are losing parts of Arizona and Alaskan territory.
What was that movie....Ice Station Zebra?
Russia doesn’t have the problems we have...like the EPA, the Interior Dept and a teeny minority of enviro-dirtbags with more power than their number deserves.
Correct, but not for the reasons(EPA, Interior) that you mention.
The US hasn't signed the treaty so the US isn't allowed membership on the technical committee to support US claims and rebut claims of others.
Reagan, by way of an Executive order, did claim the 200 mile EEZ granted by the UN, but a very significant percentage of the US shelf extends out beyond the 200 miles.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.