Canada and the United States

Abstract

Canada and the United States, two of the larger and politically powerful Arctic States, have had a longstanding interest in Arctic shipping and navigation. For Canada, shipping and navigation were not only critical for the initial exploration and discovery of the Canadian North, but were also pivotal to the development of the region. The Northwest Passage, an iconic Arctic waterway which is deeply ingrained in the Canadian psyche,1 has also proven to be contentious in Canadian-us relations given differing views as to its status. For the United States, shipping and navigation has likewise been critical to the development of Alaska both economically and strategically, while us strategic interests across the Arctic as a whole have also relied heavily upon the freedom of navigation. When these historical factors are combined with the impacts of climate change and a partially ice free Arctic Ocean,2 which in turn is attracting significant interest from states that traditionally have not had an interest in Arctic affairs, a range of diplomatic, legal and policy implications are confronting Arctic shipping and navigation. Show more