UK Joins Grab for Polar Territories

While Russia is leading the race to claim the North Pole for itself, Britain has decided to expand its territory on the other end of the world, in Antarctica. The British Foreign Office says it has no immediate plans for the additional 1,000 square miles of seabed, but simply wishes to “safeguard for the future.”

BBC:

The move does signal Britain’s willingness to join the current rush by countries to try to secure their potential oil and gas rights to seabeds should circumstances change.

The most notable recent example was the claim by Russia over the Arctic seabed.

“It is essentially to safeguard for the future and if (the treaty) is abolished in the future we will have safeguarded our claim to that area,” the Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

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abc.net.au