Global power struggles over the ocean’s finite resources call for creative diplomacy
The Conversation • • world
Key Points:
- Oceans cover 70% of Earth, support global trade, jobs, and food supplies, and are increasingly central to geopolitical tensions exacerbated by climate change and competition.
- Arctic shipping routes are opening due to melting ice, offering economic benefits but raising security risks amid overlapping territorial claims and limited emergency response capabilities.
- The demand for critical minerals under the seabed is driving interest in deep-sea mining, but environmental concerns and geopolitical rivalries complicate efforts to regulate this emerging industry.
- Overfishing threatens marine ecosystems and coastal economies, but international cooperation, treaties like the High Seas Treaty, and market-based initiatives are fostering efforts to manage and protect fish stocks.
- Diplomatic tools ranging from formal treaties to scientific collaboration and private sector engagement are crucial
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