Mitigating The Militarization Of Arctic Ocean is Not Country Specific; It Needs Urgent Global Response

The warmer climate and new technologies for the extraction of hydrocarbons and increasing interest for northern maritime routes are ratcheting up a new great game in the Arctic. The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment estimates that the temperature in the Arctic Region has risen almost twice as fast as the temperature in any other region in the world in the last century, resulting in a decrease of the polar ice mass. While the climate warriors have been highlighting the melting glaciers and its devastating repercussion on the planet, the staggering role of militarization of the arctic as the subject is still largely untouched.

To address such critical issues, a conference on ‘The Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary’ was organized by Society for Aerospace Maritime and Defence Studies (SAMDeS) India in collaboration with PARVATI Foundation, USA on 4th February 2022. It was jointly addressed by Dr. Karen Ho & Dr. Rina Barouch-Bentov of Parvati Foundation.

A conference on ‘The Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary’ conducted by SAMDeS India and Parvati Foundation, U.S. 

Highlighting the fragility of Arctic Ocean and its critical role in suppressing the climate distaste for the planet earth, scientists from the Parvati Foundation remarked: "There are 7.8 billion people and 8.7 million species which need a peaceful, healthy world—one where we can live in safety and access the food and resources we need to survive." In fact, Dr. Karen Ho & Dr. Rina Barouch-Bentov of Parvati Foundation put forth the severity of the current situation as all of that depends on the Arctic Ocean. 

For millions of years, the Arctic Ocean has been our planet's air conditioning system. It regulates the atmospheric currents, ocean currents, and weather patterns that sustain our lives. But it has changed drastically in the past decades.

Today, there is 75% less Arctic sea ice in the summer than there was just 50 years ago. As a result, the world's weather patterns have become unstable with greater floods, fires, droughts, and other natural disasters—leading to displacement, unrest, and water and hunger crises. At the same time, military and commercial interests are taking advantage of the Arctic Ocean in its vulnerable state and doing even more damage. This is an under-reported global emergency.

Conference highlighted the current dire state of Arctic Ocean exploitation and militarization, and the global consequences—as well as the singular opportunity presented by the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS). 

Cmde. Sujeet Samaddar, a leading expert on maritime and naval technology, calls out for the concrete measure said: “As the largest marine preserve in history, MAPS is a critical and urgently needed response. 

Through evocative visuals, this presentation tells the story of the origin of MAPS, its vision for a peaceful Arctic Ocean and a healthy planet, and our human capacity to change.”

While the Arctic region not owned by any state, the region is highly contentious due its economic, environmental and military values. As the region is largely governed through the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) under international law. 

Experts discussed the aggressive militarization of the Arctic in the wake up recent claims by the countries around the Ocean. Such conflicts are country specific but posing critical situation in the region which push for greater military presence. 

The fragility of arctic is broken with such staggering speed that it is actually unfolding as mega disastrous in the waiting. Since 2007 when Russia placed a flag at the exact base of the North Pole, China has also marked its military presence in the Arctic. Alongside, U.S. has established its research centers and expanded military presence to claim the sovereignty over parts of the Arctic. Canada on the other hand has also developed two military bases in the Canadian Arctic. As experts point out, such military establishment is expanding deep into the Ocean and breaking the very sanctity of the Arctic.