U.S. cooperation and leadership in developing dispute resolution framework for Arctic is critical

While it is probably already too late to prevent the Arctic ice melt, it is not too late to effectively resolve the sovereignty issues the melt will create. Thus far, the United States has not taken a significant role in the conflict or its resolution, but this type of ambivalence cannot continue as disputes escalate. Many suggest the United States join and support multilateral efforts that have already been established. Dispute resolution will be certainly be complicated and controversial; therefore, the full participation and engagement of all Arctic nations will be necessary. A geographical transformation of this magnitude has never occurred in the course of modern human history, and never has a physical change in landscape freed so many natural resources or created such new potential for trade. Therefore, it is essential that an adequate framework be developed to deal with these radical changes, and it is obvious that the framework needs not only the cooperation, but also the leadership of the United States.