The North Pole

The first manned moon landing was the United States Apollo 11 mission commanded by Neil Armstrong accompanied by Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin. Armstrong landed the lunar module Eagle on the surface of the moon July 20, 1969. The two spent the day on the surface and returned to earth having planted the U. S. flag. The United States made no claim of ownership.

Russia's tri-colored national flag now waves on an Artic sea bed, two-and-a-half miles underneath the North Pole. This region, north of the Arctic Circle holds 25% of the worlds undiscovered oil and gas. Five Nations are competing to secure the rights to this incredible treasure in the Northwest Passage. They are The United States, Canada, Norway, Denmark and Russia.

On August 2, 2007, a Russian expedition of six explorers, employing MIR submersibles, for the first time in history descended to the seabed below the North Pole. Here they planted the flag of Russia and took water and soil samples for analysis, continuing a mission to provide additional evidence related to the Russian claim of the mineral riches of the Arctic. This was part of the ongoing 2007 Russian North Pole expedition within the program of the 2007-2008 International Polar Year.Why is this significant?

Under international law, no country currently owns the North Pole or the region of the Arctic Ocean surrounding it. The five surrounding Arctic states, Russia, the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark are limited to a 370km (200 nm) economic zone around their coasts.

Upon ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country has a ten year period to make claims to extend its zone. Since ratification Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark launched projects to base claims that certain Arctic sectors should belong to their territories. Ronald Reagan rejected the treated and the United Sates never ratified.

Russia's claim is based on the Lomonosov Ridge, an extension of Russia's landmass. The Russians have stated they will live by international law. They need show proof of their claim to the United Nations. The question is does the United Nations, based on the Law of Sea, have authority to grant the region to Russia? Does the United States, not a signatory to the law, have to respect such a decision?

Russia is banking that the answer to these questions is "yes." Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia has been less influential on the world stage. Recent criticism of the west in general and the United States in particular signal a Russia poised to at least attempt a reassertion of its prowess on the world stage. Possession of this region, its potential oil and gas reserves coupled with Russia's continued steady economic growth (2006 ended eighth straight years of growth since the financial crisis of 1998); could be the catalyst necessary to return Russia to its former position as a major world economic and political power.