Antarctica and the United Nations

Abstract

During the 200-odd years, since the circumnavigation of the Antarctica by-Captain James Cook (1772–1775), international interest in the continent has grown to such an extent that the frozen Antarctica is now at the centre of a heated political debate. The prophecy of Captain Cook that the world would derive no profit out of it, seems to be proving wrong. Antarctica has now ceased to be merely the most significant ‘natural laboratory’ and the site of important scientific experiments, it has become, under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, a subject of ‘innovative political experiment’ in multilateral administration.1 The surrounding oceans, where seals and whales were once-recklessly exploited, today harbour a new and fast growing fishery of immense potential,2 while the prospect of offshore oil and gas exploitation lies on the horizon. With the tantalising speculations regarding the existence of more than hundred onland minerals in Antarctica (including gold, copper, lithium and uranium), it is only natural that an increasing number of states should' take interest in this so far unnoticed mine.3 Divergence of national interests, perceptions and positions within the-Antarctica Treaty System in regard to who owns the Antarctic audits: resources—particularly between the Antarctica claimants and the non-claimants—has always led to tensions, latent as well as manifest, within the Treaty System; recently a series of new developments like the United Nations' involvement in the Antarctic question have added to the complexity of the Antarctic political scenario. They have serious future implications for the delicate political equilibrium so far maintained on the continent under the Antarctic Treaty. The questions asked today are: Who owns the Antarctic and how significant are the benefits To be derived out of it? Who is to profit from them? and To what extent the possible uses of Antarctica are-compatible with each other? The essay purports to critically examine, in a historical perspective, the nature, scope and implications of the interaction between the United Nations and the Antarctic Treaty System. While taking note of the earlier attempts made to make possible a UN control of Antarctica, the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and the functioning thereof during the ‘sixties’ and ‘seventies’, we shall focus our attention on the recent endeavour of some countries to involve the United Nations in the Antarctic Question. The study would include, of course, the nature and scope of the United Nations study of theQuestion of Antarctica ( November 1984) and the ensuing discussions. Thus we shall examine the perceptions of various states, and of the desirability and extent of the role UN might play in Antarctica. We shall also take a special note of India's stand in this regard.