US contributions to maritime leadership increasingly seen as irrelevant because of its failure to ratify UNCLOS

The above propositions can easily be illustrated. In terms of realpolitik, in a case or controversy before the court, in which one files a brief as amicus curiae, one has no standing except at the grace of the court. Even if that court chooses to read the brief, it may not be persuaded by it, and in some cases such briefs become useful to a party opponent. So it is with the US and UNCLOS 1982. On any matter being considered, the effectiveness of US leadership depends to a great extent on the other members of the global community. The US and the United Kingdom (UK) have long taken the lead in the development of maritime law and safe navigation. Most other states active in the maritime sector have been followers of this leadership. Although historically the UK has better exploited its role for at least two centuries, the importance of the US as a global leader in establishing maritime law has not been fully grasped by the US government since the 19th century. Without ratification of UNCLOS 1982, the US has even less maritime standing in the community of nations, n61 and its contributions will rapidly be marginalized or seen as irrelevant.