Arctic Oil - a New Cold War Ver. 02

It has recently been discovered that the Arctic contains a massive quantity of oil under its icy sheets. It seems that a race has broken out between the United States and Russia to claim the rights to the mineral rich continent. Russia planted a flag on the Arctic continent in an attempt to claim the territory which has largely been regarded as an International buffer zone, but the discovery of oil seems to change everything. Recently the United States has stepped up efforts to move into the inhospitable territory by sending in ice breaking ships.

The United States has even enlisted the aid of geological scientist in order to map the underwater continental shelf of Alaska in hopes that they can claim vast regions of the continent which are submerged in the frigid waters of the north. It is the contention of the United States that they will determine its land rights based upon the continental shelf instead of the accepted three miles out to sea based on the coast line.

It all seems to have started because of the global warming issue. It appears that due to extreme ice melting conditions that the icy north has become conducive to advanced oil exploration which has sparked a race to claim land which has been up until now uninhabitable.

Many people are unaware of the fact that oil was discovered in Bosnia. There was a big commotion when NATO went in to divvy up the land and found that Russia took control over the area containing the largest portion of underground crude. The time was tense but eventually a diplomatic solution was reached.

It is unclear as to whether this newest conflict would end in a peaceful way. Both countries seem unwilling to concede anything to the other. If diplomacy were to be exhausted, there may only be one recourse and that is an armed conflict. It is clear at this moment that neither country is ready to back down. Because it seems as though the United States seems to be so hungry for oil, if we attack Iran and grab their resources, Russia must consider that they may be next.

Both countries have hinted at the idea of setting up military bases in the Arctic. This would most definitely be problematic because whenever you place two armies facing off against one another, it is almost a certainty that there will be incidents of aggression. I suppose we will have to keep a watch on this situation and hope that it does not escalate out of control. I am not sure as to whether oil is the reason for recent conflicts, or it is just a coincidence that oil is in the countries we fight with. However, the cynical side of me has a feeling that oil is a large contributing factor in issues regarding U.S. foreign policy.

Sources

Website: ABC News

http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3621021

Website: The Canadian Press

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jmmOwLcaJyS7Ouz1gk8LPYSZhNHA

Website - Reuters

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?alias=new-soil-samples-prove-th&chanId=sa003&modsrc=reuters

Website - Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0925/p04s01-woeu.html

Website - Oil Found in Balkans

http://www.balkanalysis.com/2003/01/06/analysis-south-balkan-oil-transit-ii/

Website - Oil Pipeline

http://wpherald.com/articles/3243/1/Trans-Balkan-oil-pipeline-to-be-built/Will-link-ports-in-Black-Sea-and-Adriatic.html

Website - Russians Claim Balkan Oilhttp://www.ekonomist.co.yu/en/magazin/perspectives/0302/Spotlight/Balkan%20oil.htm