The bering sea: A maritime delimitation dispute between the United States and the Soviet Union

Abstract

Abstract The 1867 Cession of Alaska Treaty is the subject of an ongoing maritime delimitation dispute between the United States and the Soviet Union. This treaty divides the Bering Sea along a southwesterly axis, creating the longest maritime boundary in the world. However, without the aid of an illustrative map attached to the treaty at the time of its signing, the superpowers disagree over the application of cartographic techniques to delineate the line, putting into question the legal status of approximately 15,000 square nautical miles in an area of great economic, environmental, and strategic importance. The ambiguities of the continental shelf regime and the unusual nature of this dispute give rise to a variety of options for a long‐term solution, of which splitting‐the‐difference and cooperative ventures are viable possibilities.