New Delhi: The United States witnessed a significant expansion of its territory by 386,000 square miles (approximately 6.21 lakh square kilometres) in the last month, as reported by Metro. This expansion resulted from the inclusion of submerged offshore areas, known as the extended continental shelf (ECS), in six different regions, according to the Department of State (DOS). The ECS comprises the continental shelf area beneath shallow waters, extending beyond 200 nautical miles.Arctic dominance, vital maritime zoneThe Arctic region plays a pivotal role in the USs expanded territory, covering 350 miles (612 km) to the north and over 680 miles (1,094 km) in the western region. The ECS, as highlighted by the US Geological Survey (USGS), represents a crucial maritime zone housing abundant resources and vital habitats for marine life.Diverse ECS regions added to US territoryApart from the Arctic, the extended US territory now includes six additional ECS regions: the Atlantic east coast, the Pacific west coast, the Bering Sea, the Mariana Islands, and two segments of the Gulf of Mexico. The State Department emphasised that, in line with international law, the United States has the right to conserve and manage resources and habitats within its ECS.Significant geographical impactThe newly added landmass elevates the total US territory, approaching nearly twice the size of Spain. The Wilson Centre, a Washington, DC-based think tank, underscored the strategic implications of this ECS extension, particularly in reinforcing the USs territorial rights in the Arctic.Economic interests, sovereign rightsThe Wilson Centre emphasised that the United States possesses substantial economic interests in the expanded undersea territory, abundant in oil, natural gas, minerals, and marine life. These resources fall under US sovereign rights, governed by international law and the Law of the Sea Convention.Largest Exclusive Economic ZoneHighlighting another dimension of this expansion, the Wilson Centre noted that the US now boasts the largest exclusive economic zone globally. This designation strengthens its ability to assert sovereign rights over submerged areas, solidifying its position in various regions, including the Arctic.Milestone in US engagement with Maritime LawsThe Wilson Centre sees the ECS extension as a significant milestone, reflecting the United States active engagement with maritime laws, particularly in adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This development aligns with broader US interests in regions such as the Arctic.The extension of the ECS comes after a thorough analysis of data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and USGS, marking a notable expansion of the United States territorial waters.
