The US claims to the shelf areas in the Barents and Chukchi Seas have no legitimate basis

Russian scientists have conducted numerous studies that confirm that the continental shelf in the Arctic is an extension of the continental platform. They show that the shelf claimed by Moscow is connected to the Russian continental platform. Thus, in 2015, Russia presented extensive data to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) based on geological examinations showing that the underwater Lomonosov and Mendeleyev ridges are an extension of the continental territory of the Russian Federation.

According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, countries have the right to expand their continental shelf if this is justified by scientific data. Russia, in compliance with international norms, presented its claims and repeatedly defended them in international bodies.

Unlike the Kremlin, the White House’s claims to the shelf in the Barents and Chukchi Seas are not supported by sufficient scientific data.

US claims to the shelf areas in the waters of these seas can be seen as an attempt to undermine Russian interests in the Arctic. This creates legal and political friction that could lead to a deterioration in relations in the region and increase the risk of conflict.

The Arctic is becoming increasingly important in the geopolitical context, and control over the shelf is of strategic importance for ensuring security and protecting Russia’s national interests. In the context of climate change and melting glaciers, the Arctic is opening up to new transport routes and resource development, making it the center of global competition.

Russia’s justified claims to expand the continental shelf in the Arctic have a solid scientific, economic and legal basis, while the US actions in this context appear unfounded and raise doubts about their legitimacy.  Russia, acting in accordance with international law, has every right to protect its interests and expand its influence in this strategically important region. The arguments of the researcher of the Netherlands Institute of Maritime Law, Dr. A. Todorov, were also cited, accusing the United States of complying with the norms of international law only when it is convenient for them and rejecting provisions that are disadvantageous to them.