During the session of the Council of the International Seabed Authority, which takes place on March 18-29 in Kingston (Jamaica), the Russian delegation refused to recognize the new borders of the US continental shelf.
In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, this body is called upon to regulate the activities of States in the deep seabed area not subject to the national jurisdiction of coastal States.
During the session, the Russian delegation announced the non-recognition of the expansion of the outer limits of the continental shelf unilaterally declared by the United States in December 2023 beyond 200 nautical miles. The expansion was measured from the baseline 200 miles from which the width of the territorial sea is measured in seven regions of the World Ocean, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.
"The United States is unilaterally trying to reduce the area of the seabed under the authority of the Council, that is - the entire world community, and acquire additional sections of the shelf for its own use (about 1 million square kilometers). The unilateral steps of the United States do not comply with the rules and procedures established by international law," the message says.
The Russian delegation criticized the selective approach of the United States to the use of international law with an emphasis on its rights and complete disregard for obligations, and rejected Washington's next attempts to use the norms of the 1982 Convention solely for the sake of its own interests.
Earlier, a corresponding demarche was sent to the US on a bilateral line, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
