Committee: GA1 – DISEC

Topic: Militarization of the Arctic

Delegate: Angel Versetti (USA)
University: Sciences Po Paris

I. OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE

The Arctic region’s legal status has been widely disputed over the last several decades with several
states within the Polar circle claiming territorial sovereignty over some of its portions. Its geostrategic
importance is lies within its potential as a trade route as well as in the sizable amounts of
undiscovered oil and gas in the region. As a result of the increasing competition for the dominance
over the region, Russia, Canada and Denmark began engaging in more aggressive tactics to establish
influence in the Arctic by illegitimately stepping up on its military presence in the region. Not only
does it impose on the rights of the indigenous peoples inhabiting the Polar Circle, this increase in
military activity and scramble for resources could destabilise the situation in the region.

II. POSITION OF THE USA

The USA has been tentatively increasing its focus on the Arctic region, with Navy training and
surveillance initiatives around the Arctic region gaining momentum in the last decade. The USA
believes that the question of militarisation of the Arctic should be addressed within the mechanism of
the Arctic Council, of which it is a member. The USA disapproves of Russia’s self-approved
intensified patrolling and military presence in the region and sees Canada as its ally in strategic
cooperation with Canada to conduct joint operations to secure the waters and aerospace in the Arctic
region. In May 2013 Barack Obama announced his neutrality towards Canada’s opposition to
potential newcomers in the Arctic Council (such as China). The Obama administration’s Arctic
Strategy announced in 2013 includes the following points as top priorities: 1) Safeguarding of
national security in the northern frontiers 2) Developing oil, gas and other natural resources 3)
Protecting the environment of the region 4) Defending rights and interests of the indigenous peoples
in Alaska. Additionally the USA confirms its current position that the Law of the Sea Convention, the
International Maritime Organisation and the Arctic Council form the core of the regime that
legitimately governs the Arctic and determines the policies in the region.

III. PROPOSALS

A) The USA proposes creation of a comprehensive Arctic Treaty in order to construct a legal
framework to define the scope and extent of the regional governance for the Arctic, including the
military actions in the region, in particular such questions as policing, surveying and sustainable
administrating the Arctic and managing its natural resources. The interests of the local indigenous
population should be taken into account by giving them advisory role in any of the governance
mechanisms in the Arctic, as it is not just a region of strategic importance, but also a homeland to
tens of thousands of people.

B) To prevent further militarization of the region, the US proposes creation of arms limitation
agreement for the region, establishment of an extensive cooperative surveillance system that
would minimise national security risks to the states located around the Arctic region. Particular
focus must be made on complete prohibition of any nuclear weapons, as well as curbing threats of
arms and drugs trafficking in the area.