Turkey's Interest in the Arctic Region: the Possible Effects of being a Party to the Svalbard Treaty

Abstract

The Arctic Ocean's becoming open wider to international navigation for most of the time in parallel with global warming has attracted the attention of the world to this region. As the Covid-19 pandemic reveals the necessity to deliver products to the global market as quickly as possible, the possibility of intense use of the Arctic Ocean is increasing. This study aims to emphasize the increasing importance of the Arctic region from a maritime economics perspective and on the other hand to discuss the possible effects of being a party for Turkey to the Svalbard (originally Spitsbergen) Treaty. It is expected that the increase in global temperatures will result in important outcomes in the region especially regarding the new emerging navigational routes and sharing of the natural resources in the region. Analysis has been made on the impact of new security concerns on the sustainable maritime economy likely to arise in the Arctic region. As a result, the importance of mutual international efforts to maintain stability was emphasized and the importance of being a party to the Svalbard Treaty for Turkey was highlighted.