Arctic Issues. Territorial claims that could outrgrow into the next "Hot Spot" of International Relations

                                     
   The Arctic region is gaining an increasingly important role in international relations. The huge territory of the region and its richness in terms of natural resources makes the Arctic a "tidbit" for the states applying for it.
  According to the US Geological Survey, the oil reserves in the region amount to 90 billion barrels, which would make it possible to use these reserves of about 3 years. However, because of the unique climate of the Arctic, oil production is difficult and dangerous task. There is a high probability of accidents due to the unpredictability of weather conditions. In addition, in the case of an industrial accident, the consequences will affect badly on ecology. Therefore, many international organizations protest strongly against the development of oil there.
   A huge problem is also the threat of global warming. The glaciers of the Arctic decreased by 70 percent over the past 30 years. It is fraught with not only the extinction of some species of local flora and fauna, but also a climate change in the world.
   However, this does not diminish the territorial interest of the "Arctic players", and it has a number of reasons. First of all, the increase in the duration of the summer navigation and the development of maritime industry, including marine transport of goods and tourism, first of all on the Northeast Passage (NEP). In addition, climate warming will facilitate access by sea to the natural resources of the Arctic, including the deposits on the shelf of the Arctic Ocean, which will open up new opportunities for economic development.
   Arctic territory is divided into five sectors of responsibility between Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, and Norway. However, in recent situation, when not only "Arctic" powers actively show interest in the development of the region, but also other countries, each of which has its own interests and ideas about the status of the region in international context, the Arctic can not be longer perceived only as a territory, space or polar region. The Arctic is becoming a global goal and issued as a new bridgehead in world politics.
   In the early stages of the exploration of the Arctic a number contentious issues including the legal status of the Arctic territories raised. Today, consolidation of ownership of the Arctic area is very problematic process, due to the imperfections of international law in the 21st century. The new laws do not cancel old agreements, whereas these arrangements may differ or not conform to a new one.
   Therefore, it is expected that further study of the disputed areas of the Arctic that are closer to the North Pole and further away from the land border of pretending States will be even more problematic, because, most likely, most of the claims of countries on the Arctic shelf will be deprived of legal force. This situation is likely to lead to new international conflicts based on territorial disputes. It is clear that for each of the "Arctic players" this region has a significant role because of its wealth of natural resources, and the Northeast Passage.