which the Artic countries had on these areas didn’t need to be backed up by any action. However, with the ice cap melting, the two passages in question are becoming more accessible, with estimates that the Northern Sea Route could be accessible for ships with no ice breaking strengthening for three months of the year by the end of the century. 378 Therefore Arctic nations are having to assert their previous position on the Arctic with actions. Both the NWP and NSR are key potential shipping routes, as was shown in September 2009 when 2 cargo ships travelling from South Korea to Rotterdam travelled through the NSR, and by doing so cut off 4000 nautical miles from the trip, saving time and money in the process. 379 The routes of both the NWP and NSR are shown in figure three. Through the opening of the passages, it could create a non-traditional conflict. This is due to the increased risk of terrorism, piracy and trafficking. 380 Therefore, Arctic state’s military forces in the Arctic could be in conflict with non-state actors, which is what has occurred in other parts of the world previously. In addition to this, conflict could arise from the actions of Russia making it mandatory for all ships travelling through the NSR to have an expensive ice breaker escort (which is legal under international law) which other state’s and commercial companies may not want to pay. 381 The issue for the Northwest Passage is what it is defined as, the USA and Europe have a dispute with Canada as they see it as an 378 Chapman, p.10. 379 Ibid. p.11. 380 Järvenpää and Ries, p.138. 381 Marianne Lavelle, Arctic Shipping Soars, led by Russia and Lured by Energy (1 December 2013), <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/11/1311 29-arctic-shipping-soars-led-by-russia/> [accessed 4 November 2016].
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