NATO summit: thawing Arctic could spark confrontation over energy reserves

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/iceland/4384018/Nato-summit-thawing-Arctic-could-spark-confrontation-over-energy-reserves.html

Nato summit: thawing Arctic could spark confrontation over energy reserves

Nato leaders have been warned that the thawing Arctic Circle could spark military confrontation over its energy reserves.

Last Updated: 7:16PM GMT 29 Jan 2009

Commanders and politicians from members of the alliance meeting in Reykjavik in Iceland discussed the risks posed by the thawing Arctic Circle and the prospect of standoffs among nations rushing to lay claim to the energy reserves there.

The possibility of new shipping routes through once-frozen regions threatens to complicate already delicate relations between countries with competing claims to Arctic territory - particularly as previously inaccessible areas open to exploration for their abundant reserves of oil and natural gas.

The US, Russia, Canada, Britain, China and several northern nations are all attempting to claim jurisdiction over Arctic territory.

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"Having lots of warships, from lots of nations who have lots of competing claims on territory - that may lend itself to a rather tense situation," he said. "We may see that flash points come to pass there more readily than elsewhere in the world."

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