UN Discusses Arctic Maritime Governance Challenges

The Arctic Council is primarily a forum for cooperation among Arctic nations and Indigenous communities on environmental matters, not a treaty-based body addressing territorial claims. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governs maritime entitlements in the Arctic, allowing countries to submit claims for extended continental shelves as ice recedes, particularly in hydrocarbon-rich areas. The Northeast Passage, also known as the Northern Sea Route, provides a shorter shipping route between Europe and Asia, running along Russia's Arctic coast. Meanwhile, hypersonic missiles, such as Russia's Zircon, are designed to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and can evade missile defense systems, presenting new strategic challenges. However, it is noted that hypersonic missiles are generally slower than intercontinental ballistic missiles. The ongoing developments in these areas highlight the increasing geopolitical significance of the Arctic and advancements in military technology.