Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Eugene

(62,656 posts)
Tue May 7, 2019, 05:39 PM May 2019

Mike Pompeo rejects Canada's claims to Northwest Passage as 'illegitimate'

Source: The Guardian

Mike Pompeo rejects Canada's claims to Northwest Passage as 'illegitimate'

Speech to Arctic Council delegates prompted frustration and surprise among experts and government officials

Leyland Cecco in Toronto
Tue 7 May 2019 18.04 BST Last modified on Tue 7 May 2019 20.23 BST

Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, has rejected Canada’s claims to the Northwest Passage as “illegitimate”, in a high-profile foreign policy speech that prompted frustration and surprise among experts and government officials.

Delegates from Arctic nations – Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US – had gathered in Finland to discuss balancing climate change with resource development in the region.

“No one denies Russia has significant Arctic interests,” Pompeo told delegates of the Arctic Council on Monday. “We recognize that Russia is not the only nation making illegitimate claims: the US has a long contested feud with Canada over sovereign claims through the Northwest Passage.”

The Arctic route linking the Atlantic and the Pacific offers a potential shortcut between Europe and China. Although the passage remains ice-bound for much of the year, it has become increasingly usable because of global warming and the retreat of Arctic sea ice.

While the United States has long maintained that the route, often blocked by sea ice, lies in international waters, Canada has argued the waters pass through sovereign territory.

-snip-


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/07/mike-pompeo-canada-northwest-passage-illegitimate
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Mike Pompeo rejects Canada's claims to Northwest Passage as 'illegitimate' (Original Post) Eugene May 2019 OP
Fighting with Canada? Sanity Claws May 2019 #1
Is he as stupid as his boss ? Haggis for Breakfast May 2019 #2
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Canada»Mike Pompeo rejects Canad...