Who owns Arctic oil?
For the longest time, the Arctic wasn’t exactly a high priority for the nations of the world. It was a frozen wasteland, a place where native peoples carved out a harsh existence and daring explorers risked everything for fame. Outside of early efforts to discover a Northwest Passage, it was hardly thought of as an economic Shangri-La. Under the 17th century Freedom of the Seas doctrine, the Arctic belonged to no one. Explorations continued and, occasionally, fictional mad scientists chased their monsters there to die. But largely, the Arctic continued to exist on the outskirts of international politics. Naval conflict entered its waters in both world wars and its skies and waters played host to Cold War machinations, but what else was there to gain from all that ice? Meanwhile, the world’s insatiable app
