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| Obama undecided on Arctic Council expansion days before summit | Obama undecided on Arctic Council expansion days before summit |
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| Barack Obama is for the moment staying neutral on the highly contentious question of whether China should have a say in determining the future of the Arctic, the White House said on Friday. | Barack Obama is for the moment staying neutral on the highly contentious question of whether China should have a say in determining the future of the Arctic, the White House said on Friday. |
| The rapid warming of the Arctic due to climate change has set off a scramble for the vast oil and mineral resources that are now being exposed by the melting of the polar sea ice. There is also deep interest in potential new shipping routes. | The rapid warming of the Arctic due to climate change has set off a scramble for the vast oil and mineral resources that are now being exposed by the melting of the polar sea ice. There is also deep interest in potential new shipping routes. |
| The secretary of state, John Kerry, and other foreign ministers from the eight states which make up the Arctic Council, will gather in Kiruna, Sweden on 15 May to discuss the future of the Arctic. One key question on the agenda is whether to allow 14 countries including China and India as well as the European Union a say in deciding the future of the region by granting them observer status in the Arctic Council. | The secretary of state, John Kerry, and other foreign ministers from the eight states which make up the Arctic Council, will gather in Kiruna, Sweden on 15 May to discuss the future of the Arctic. One key question on the agenda is whether to allow 14 countries including China and India as well as the European Union a say in deciding the future of the region by granting them observer status in the Arctic Council. |
| The push to open up the select club now governing the Arctic's future to a broader membership has been a matter of some debate. Nordic countries would like to internationalise the Arctic; Russia and Canada, which control more territory in the region, are opposed. Obama, it turns out, may still be on the fence. | The push to open up the select club now governing the Arctic's future to a broader membership has been a matter of some debate. Nordic countries would like to internationalise the Arctic; Russia and Canada, which control more territory in the region, are opposed. Obama, it turns out, may still be on the fence. |
| A senior administration official, briefing reporters on Friday about Obama's newly unveiled Arctic strategy ahead of the meeting, said a final decision had yet to be taken about granting China observer status in the Council. "There are a series of entities that have requested observer status as this time," the official said. "We have not taken a position." | A senior administration official, briefing reporters on Friday about Obama's newly unveiled Arctic strategy ahead of the meeting, said a final decision had yet to be taken about granting China observer status in the Council. "There are a series of entities that have requested observer status as this time," the official said. "We have not taken a position." |
| China, despite its distance from the Arctic, has been steadily gaining a foothold in the region. The country sent an ice breaker through the Arctic last year, on a route that would cut shipping times to northern Europe by up to two weeks, compared to the traditional route through the Suez canal. | China, despite its distance from the Arctic, has been steadily gaining a foothold in the region. The country sent an ice breaker through the Arctic last year, on a route that would cut shipping times to northern Europe by up to two weeks, compared to the traditional route through the Suez canal. |
| China has also been seeking a greater say over the future of the region – and its resources. China invested heavily in Iceland, signing a free trade agreement with Icelandic officials in Beijing last month. It has also enlisted Norway to support its bid for a seat at the table in the Arctic Council. | China has also been seeking a greater say over the future of the region – and its resources. China invested heavily in Iceland, signing a free trade agreement with Icelandic officials in Beijing last month. It has also enlisted Norway to support its bid for a seat at the table in the Arctic Council. |
| However, Canada, which takes over the leadership of the Arctic Council at next week's meeting, has opposed the move to internationalise the region. | However, Canada, which takes over the leadership of the Arctic Council at next week's meeting, has opposed the move to internationalise the region. |
| America, with its expansive territory in the Arctic, has also been preparing for a future wrought by climate change. The official told reporters the Obama administration had adopted a new strategy for the Arctic, focused on safeguarding national security, developing oil, gas, rare earth minerals and other resources, and protecting the environment and native Alaskan communities. The official offered no details on how that strategy might affect drilling in Arctic waters or shipping lanes, or whether it might open up funds for native Alaskan villages threatened by flooding and erosion due to climate change. | America, with its expansive territory in the Arctic, has also been preparing for a future wrought by climate change. The official told reporters the Obama administration had adopted a new strategy for the Arctic, focused on safeguarding national security, developing oil, gas, rare earth minerals and other resources, and protecting the environment and native Alaskan communities. The official offered no details on how that strategy might affect drilling in Arctic waters or shipping lanes, or whether it might open up funds for native Alaskan villages threatened by flooding and erosion due to climate change. |
| "This is the work we need to focus on and pursue now," the official said. | "This is the work we need to focus on and pursue now," the official said. |
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