GEOPOLITICS

Rising temperature and melting Arctic ice are changing global geopolitics. Oil, natural gas, minerals and fish— there is enough of these trapped under the melting sea ice to satiate the world’s growing hunger. Receding ice caps are opening up new sea lanes, making the exploitation easier. The eight nations surrounding the Arctic Ocean are in a frenzy not to let go of even an inch of their territory. The new-found resource is also attracting distant players like India and China. Countries are delving deeper into the ocean—least explored part of the planet—to explore its mineral wealth. Here as well a new regime is emerging.