Just a few weeks ago, the area of the United States increased by 1 million km2 (over 386,000 square miles) – nearly double the size of Spain.
Continental Shelf off Los Angeles.
The continental shelf is the underwater land surrounding large land areas, where the sea is relatively shallow compared to the ocean. According to international law, countries can claim these continental shelves, allowing them to manage and exploit their resources.
Up to 75 countries have defined the limits of the Extended Continental Shelf (ECS), the part of the continental shelf that extends beyond 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from the coast. So far, the United States has not achieved this.
On December 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of State announced new geographical coordinates that define what they claim as their ECS area.
Since 2003, the U.S. government has collaborated with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the U.S. Geological Survey, and 12 other agencies to collect geological data to define the outer limits of their ECS. Seven offshore areas: the Arctic, Atlantic (East Coast), Bering Sea, Pacific (West Coast), the Mariana Islands, and two areas in the Gulf of Mexico. The total area is 1 million km2 (over 386,000 square miles).
“America is bigger than it was yesterday,” said Mead Treadwell, former lieutenant governor of Alaska and former chairman of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, on December 19, according to Alaska Public Media.
If these maritime borders are approved internationally, the U.S. will reap significant benefits. The expansion of ocean territory in the Arctic could open the area for continued exploration, transportation, and fishing.
This also has implications for national security and the exercise of this nation’s power globally.
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