The Foreign Service Journal, May 2021

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2021 33 inevitable transformation. It’s sort of a strategic planner’s dream. SD: But isn’t there a larger geopo- litical competition that’s taking place in the Arctic? JDH: Countries around the world see the Arctic becoming more acces- sible. So, many of them are develop- ing the capabilities required to be more present and involved in the future, such as icebreakers. But keep in mind: The Arctic is not “ungov- erned” space. There are rules in the Arctic, starting with the U.N. Conven- tion on the Law of the Sea, which puts most of the resources within the territorial jurisdictions of the Arctic states. Connected to this is a well-functioning interna- tional process to settle the extended continental shelf claims, the seabed claims, of the Arctic states. These rules and frameworks help keep things predictable and peaceful. SD: Wait, but the U.S. hasn’t signed the convention. Do we still follow the rules it lays out? JDH: We do. We treat the Law of the Sea Convention as cus- tomary international law, and we follow it. It’s very much in our interest to do so. SD: Would ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea affect the way the United States is able to influence events in the Arctic? Might the United States ratify UNCLOS in the com- ing months and years? JDH: I think it’s unquestionably in our interest to become a formal party to the agreement, especially as we prepare to sub- mit our own extended continental shelf claim in the Arctic; but putting this question to the Senate entails many considerations beyond my remit. SD: How is science diplomacy playing out in the Arctic? Is this an area of broad cooperation, including with competitors? JDH: Yes. I don’t know of any other region of the world, except maybe Antarctica, where international collaboration on science is so strong. The work we do in the Arctic with our international partners is amazing, and especially critical to understanding climate change and projecting future trends. By the way, this includes not just the states of the Arctic, but many great partners from outside the Arctic region, as well. I’m proud to say the United States leads the way on Arctic science, and I have the utmost admiration for the work of the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA and our sci- ence community writ large. NASA has a satellite that measures the depth of the Greenland ice cap with precision down to the width of a pencil! SD: What are the priorities for our new consulate in Nuuk, Greenland? Has there been concern from locals or from Denmark about that time when the U.S. president talked about buying Greenland? JDH: As you know, we have consulates all over the world, which enable us to reach beyond capital cities and build rela- tions with levels of society and communities that might other- wise be difficult to reach. Greenland is a uniquely great place to have a consulate because it is so remote and has distinct cultures and communities that take some time to get to know. I had the chance to travel to Greenland in the fall, and I can tell you we have a great consulate team there. I think we’re now in a position to take our relations with the Greenlanders to the next level, including cooperation on sustainable tourism, new commercial opportunities and educational exchanges. SD: So, we are not trying to buy Greenland? JDH: We’re not in the real estate business. We’re in the diplomacy business, working to deepen our ties with the people of Greenland and, for that matter, with the entire Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark, of course, is a great friend and ally. SD: What will success look like for the United States in the Arctic? JDH: When the Arctic becomes synonymous with peace, with international cooperation, with good science, and with better futures for Arctic peoples—I think that’s success. n Jim DeHart, State Department Senior Oceans Policy Adviser Gregory O’Brien and Office of the U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region Senior Adviser Hillary LeBail during an October 2020 visit to the U.S. consulate in Nuuk. JIMDEHART