Comment Extended continental shelf resources (Score 2) 344
Its about the natural resources, check out the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This allows any of the 8 arctic coastal countries to claim exclusive rights past 200 miles, into their extended continental shelf. US has a small piece of the pie now because of Alaska. Denmark (thru Greenland) would provide another large area. US has already signed the treaty, but not ratified it. Once ratified, you have 10 years to stake your claim, by mapping the sea floor.