Calspan’s Post

Shortly after I was appointed Foreign Editor of The Straits Times in 2012, I wrote a long analysis piece detailing the strategic implications to Asia of the increasingly extended ice-free periods in the Arctic, opening up the North South Route for potential commercial navigation between Europe and Asia. The following year, in June 2013, five Asian nations -- Singapore, South Korea, Japan, China and India -- successfully gained admission into the Arctic Council as Observers. Since then, I have sought to update readers periodically on this vital region, and the following piece, which begins with the dramatic US decision to massively expand its Extended Continental Shelf in the Arctic (citing Unclos which it has not ratified), furthers that. Do read if these esoteric issues interest you. #unclos #oilandgas #nato #climatechange #russia #china #maritimenews #usforeignpolicy #japan #defencenews #canadá

This map depicts the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The South China Sea dispute involves claims to islands as well as maritime areas, such as reefs, banks, and other sea features. It also involves the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and multiple Gulf of Tonkin boundaries, including Hon La Islands, Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island. The parties involved in the conflict are Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the People's Republic of China. #maps #infomaps #china #scs #southchinasea #military #security #geography #coveringchina #geopolitics #internationalrelations #internationalpolitics

The United States has expanded its landmass by 1,000,000 square kilometers. Mead Treadwell, a former Alaska lieutenant governor and ex-chair of the US Arctic Research Commission, grabbed attention by stating that 'America is larger than it was yesterday.' This growth isn't due to unusual geological forces or annexation of foreign territory. Instead, the US State Department has outlined plans to enlarge the country by asserting control over adjacent ocean-floor areas. On December 19, they released new geographic coordinates defining their Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) limit, claiming seven offshore areas, including those in the Arctic and along the east coast of the Atlantic. 🌎🗺️ #usa#expansion#martimeexpansion#enviroment#America

The Soviets drained the Aral Sea, and now Americans and Central Asians are working together to help the region recover. Learn more about our work in Kazakhstan here: https://lnkd.in/eWyD6uru

Begin a voyage to a realm where the extraordinary is commonplace. Welcome to Destination: Amazing – Where each expedition leaves an indelible mark. https://lnkd.in/gFeF6gsQ

Been doing some research on “reshoring” recently and have found it hasn’t been that countries are re-shoring their supply chains as much as diversifying the sources of components of the end items — thus, maritime commerce and the ability to effect it will continue to be important into the near- to mid-term. I like the Economist, but this headline and first sentence are ridiculous - get past that, and this is a good article about the importance, use and usefulness of the maritime domain.

Today at the George C. Marshall Center 🌏 we are focusing on the geopolitics of the Arctic, where global tensions cause challenges but also economic opportunities connected to total defence, self sufficiency and security of supply. ✅Great presentation by Anu Fredrikson from Arctic Frontiers, also an alumni of the Center, it is always a pleasure to re-connect! #föpol #säkpol Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies #Arctic #HighNorth #geopolitics #security #geoeconomics #defense #Nordics

In the new September post for 66° North - A newsletter on Arctic security, I look at what the coast guards of Russia and China are getting up to in the Bering Strait, why a senator in Moscow linked a summit between Canada and the Nordic states to Hitler, the role of the sleepy Chukotka Autonomous Oblast in maritime geopolitics, and some of the first road bumps that have been hitting India’s budding polar friendship with Russia. As usual, if this is useful or interesting to you, please consider subscribing!