First, it was Russia which claimed a vast swathe of territory in the Arctic Ocean. Now, it seems that Britain is planning to expand its empire too –this time, it’s eyeing the Atlantic Ocean.
Yes, in a bid to tap gas and mineral wealth, Britain is seeking to legally annex thousands of square miles of the Atlantic Ocean floor around the Falklands, Ascension Island and Rockall, The Guardian reported.
“The British government soon plans to file claims with the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf,” Chris Carleton, the Head of the Law of the Sea Division at the UK Hydrographic Office, was quoted as saying.
Under a UN convention, the country claiming ownership of the region’s ocean floor must show evidence that the seabed is an extension of their continental shelf.
According to Carleton who is involved in preparing the submissions, the Falklands claim has the most potential for acrimonious political fallout. The reason: Britain and Argentina fought over the islands 25 years ago, and the value of the oil under the sea in the region is immense.