18. Arctic Passage Tensions: Climate Change Opens New Conflicts
As global warming melts Arctic ice, the Northwest Passage becomes increasingly navigable. Canada claims these waters as internal territory, requiring permission for transit. The U.S. insists they constitute an international strait open to all. Canadian naval patrols face American “freedom of navigation” operations. As shipping seasons lengthen, the disagreement intensifies annually. Military presence, commercial shipping rights, and environmental protection all hang in balance.
