Russia re-submits Arctic claims to UN

Russia announced on 4 August 2015 it had submitted a revised application to the United Nations (UN) seeking the expansion of its Arctic shelf border, rich in oil and other natural resources.

The country had already submitted a claim in 2001, but the UN sent it back on grounds of lack of evidence, asking for more research to back it up. In 2007, a Russian submarine dropped a canister containing a Russian flag on the ocean bed of the North Pole to mark its Arctic claims.

The move triggered fears of increased tensions with the United States, Canada, Denmark, Greenland and Norway - all these countries also racing for influence and sovereignty in this northern region.

• Primary Source

France24, 04.08.15: Russia submits Arctic claims to UN http://www.france24.com/en/20150804-russia-stakes-claim-over-vast-swathes-arctic

The Local.no, 04.08.15: Russia's Pole claim sparks 'Arctic battle' fear http://www.thelocal.no/20150804/warnings-of-arctic-battle-after-russias-pole-claim

Deutsche Welle, 04.08.15: Russia submits revised Arctic claim to UN http://dw.com/p/1G9wt

Sputnik International, 04.08.15: Permission for Russia Arctic Shelf Expansion by UN Possible, But Not Soon http://sputniknews.com/world/20150804/1025380411.html

Sputnik International, 05.08.15: UN Commission to Consider Russian Bid for Arctic Shelf Only in 2016 http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150805/1025401178.html

The Arctic Journal, 04.08.15: Russia lays claim to North Pole, Greenpeace reacts http://arcticjournal.com/press-releases/1738/russia-lays-claim-north-pole-greenpeace-reacts

The Local.dk, 04.08.15: Russia challenges Denmark over North Pole http://www.thelocal.dk/20150804/russia-challenges-denmark-over-north-pole

BBC News, 04.08.15: Russia makes renewed bid for contentious Arctic regions http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33777492

The Guardian, 04.08.15: Russia lays claim to vast areas of Arctic http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/04/russia-lays-claim-to-vast-areas-of-arctic-seabed

The Independent, 04.08.15: Russia makes fresh bid for Arctic region which could hold quarter of the Earth's undiscovered fossil fuels http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-makes-fresh-bid-for-arctic-region-which-could-hold-quarter-of-the-earths-undiscovered-fossil-fuels-10438807.html

The Wall Street Journal, 04.08.15: Russia Files Revised Claim for Arctic Territory With U.N. http://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-files-revised-claim-for-arctic-territory-with-u-n-1438719346

ESO: Background information: Arctic Scramble: Russia to Flex Military Muscle in Far North http://www.europeansources.info/record/arctic-scramble-russia-to-flex-military-muscle-in-far-north/

ESO: Background information: Russia plants flag on North Pole seabed / Battle for oil rests not on flags but on obscure UN panel http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-plants-flag-on-north-pole-seabed-battle-for-oil-rests-not-on-flags-but-on-obscure-un-panel/

The Conversation, 14.08.15: The truth about politics and cartography: mapping claims to the Arctic seabed https://theconversation.com/the-truth-about-politics-and-cartography-mapping-claims-to-the-arctic-seabed-46043

ESO: Background information: Arctic Council http://www.europeansources.info/record/arctic-council/

The Conversation, 14.08.15: The military gambit behind Putin’s Arctic ambitions for Russian oil https://theconversation.com/the-military-gambit-behind-putins-arctic-ambitions-for-russian-oil-45844

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