Who Owns the Arctic?

Russia pulling ahead in the Arctic

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks at a transportation conference in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. (Nov. 2011)

Michael Byers, Toronto Star, December 29, 2011

NOVOSIBIRSK, RUSSIA—“Canada has a good working relationship with Russia with respect to the Arctic. There is no likelihood of Arctic states going to war.”

The Russian foreign ministry’s representative in Siberia smiles as he quotes the Canadian Prime Minister, as reported in a U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks.

Although Stephen Harper never expected that his conversation with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen would be made public, the analysis was entirely correct. Here in Novosibirsk (pop. 1.5 million), people are more interested in trade and investment opportunities than geopolitical conspiracies.

Norway hails Barents treaty OK by Russian Duma

Walter Gibbs, Reuters, March 26, 2011

OSLO - Norway welcomed a Russian State Duma vote ratifying a treaty to divide the Barents Sea into clear Norwegian and Russian zones, bringing Norway closer to a new oil and gas drive in the Arctic.

Canada, take note: Here’s how to resolve maritime disputes

Sergei Lavrov and Jonas Gahr Støre, Globe and Mail, September 21, 2010

It is often said there are few truly untamed places left on Earth, but the windswept horizons of the Arctic surely qualify. Some political analysts maintain that the geopolitical landscape is equally harsh – a lawless region poised for conflict due to an accelerating “race for the North Pole.”

We disagree. Instead, we firmly believe that the Arctic can be used to demonstrate just how much peace and collective interests can be served through the implementation of the international rule of law. Moreover, we believe that the challenges in the Arctic should inspire momentum in international relations, based on co-operation rather than rivalry and confrontation, and we believe that important steps have already been taken toward this goal.

Ottawa holds talks with Russia as Norway signs accord

Olivia Ward, Toronto Star, September 17, 2010

Frosty diplomatic relations were thawing like Arctic ice as Norway reached a landmark deal with Russia this week over a 40-year-old Barents Sea boundary dispute, and Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon held cordial meetings Thursday with Russian officials in Moscow.

Russia-Norway pact on Arctic zone puts pressure on Ottawa

As other countries sew up deals, Canada is seen as a laggard in jockeying for northern riches

Paul Koring, Globe and Mail, September 16, 2010

The race to carve up the Arctic’s increasingly exposed riches got hotter as Norway and Russia divvied up an oil-rich zone off their northern coasts, leaving Canada as the only country with a share of both the remaining unresolved boundary disputes.

It’s time to resolve our Arctic differences: If Norway and Russia can reach a deal, there's no reason Canada can't settle its lingering territorial disputes

Michael Byers, Globe and Mail, April 30, 2010

Defence Minister Peter MacKay has just returned from Nunavut, where he celebrated Canada’s ability to send soldiers on snowmobiles across the Arctic sea ice.

On the other side of the Arctic Ocean, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store was up to more serious business: signing a treaty with Russia that settles the Arctic’s most significant boundary dispute.

LUKoil's Arctic Fleet Welcomes the "Verandey"

February 3, 2009

(LUKOIL) - Today, the ceremony of consecration of the “Varandey” multi-purpose ice-breaker took place in Murmansk. The vessel was built by Keppel Singmarine (Singapore) under the contract with LUKOIL. The ship is to operate at the Varandey Oil Export Terminal in the Barents Sea.

The vessel is to be on continuous watch at the Stationary Ice-Resistant Sea Export Moor (SIRSEM), the Varandey Terminal, to ensure safe ice conditions during the loading of tankers. ...

For the full text, see: http://www.oilandgaseurasia.com/news/p/0/news/3913 

[The two new icebreakers mentioned in this story are both as powerful as anything in Canada's Coast Guard fleet - MB]

Norwegian-Russian swap deal in the Barents Sea?

BarentsObserver.com , September 25, 2008

A Norwegian researcher believes that Norway and Russia are about to make an agreement on border disputes in the Arctic, which have lasted for more than 30 year old .

- Russia will agree upon Norwegian jurisdiction in the Svalbard fish protection area, if Norway accepts to divide the disputed area in the Barents Sea further to the west, says High North expert Willy Østreng says to Norwegian Newspaper FiskeribladetFiskaren.

In Østereng's opinion there are several recent indications that the jurisdiction of Svalbard is seen in relations to the border discussions in the disputed area of the Barents Sea. One of the indications is that Russian authorities have not protested on the two recent arrests of Russian vessels in the protection zone around Svalbard. Earlier, Russians authorities responded quickly and hard to such arrest.

The disputed area of the Barents Sea is 176 000 square kilometres. Russian and Norwegian authorities have come to an agreement of how to divide 80 percent of the area. It is the last 20 percent, in which the promising Fedinski-structure is found, which have led to the dispute. Russian seismic surveys in the 80ties showed that this structure probably hides large reserves of petroleum.

Østereng believes that an exchange deal between Norway and Russia in the Arctic is about to be agreed upon. If Norwegian claims in the Svalbard zone is accepted, Russian claims in the disputed zone will be accepted.