Countries don’t grow in size “just because.” In fact, in today’s world, it’s rare and complex for countries to increase in size, considering any territorial expansion has to comply with international law. The simplest case where this can happen is a natural growth of territory due to sedimentation or natural changes, but even in these cases, changes happen very slowly in terms of square feet.
That’s why the case of the U.S.’s expansion is so complex: Has it actually grown by more than twice the size of California? This is what the State Department is claiming and it’ll have to prove it now.
The U.S.’s claim. At the end of 2023, the State Department claimed that the country had suddenly gained more than 386,000 square miles, more than double the size of California (163,695 square miles). This unexpected expansion wasn’t due to geological forces or a foreign invasion, but rather an attempt to reclaim surrounding ocean territory.
To be precise, on Dec. 19, 2023, the State Department announced new coordinates describing what it believes to be its extended continental shelf (ECS).
What is ECS? The ECS, although not a well-known concept, is very important for countries wishing to define or expand their international territory, as is the case of the U.S. These are areas of shallow seabed, compared to the open ocean, off the coast of large landmasses and extending up to 230 miles from the shore.
Thus, expanding their landmass allows countries to exploit natural resources found in these areas. This involves claiming as much territory as possible under international law, which enables them to manage and exploit these resources. By the end of 2023, 75 countries had defined the limits of their ECS. The U.S. hadn’t done so yet, so it thought it was a good time to consider it.
The study that supports the U.S.’s claim. Obviously, the U.S. is backing its claim with data. Specifically, it’s supporting it with geological data the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Geological Survey, and 12 other agencies collected in 2003 to establish the outer limits of the U.S.’s ECS.
They found evidence to support the recent territory expansion claim. In short, the study identified ECS in seven marine areas: the Arctic, the Atlantic (east coast), the Bering Sea, the Pacific (west coast), the Mariana Islands, and two areas in the Gulf of Mexico. Altogether, this amounts to an area of 386,000 square miles.
In this respect, Mead Treadwell, former lieutenant governor of Alaska and former chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, told local news outlet Alaska Public Media, “America is larger than it was yesterday. It’s not quite the Louisiana Purchase. It’s not quite the purchase of Alaska, but the new area of land and subsurface resources under the land controlled by the United States is two Californias larger.”
Is this legal? Now the hardest part that remains is for the U.S. to prove it and get the green light from international bodies. In order for the definition to be official, the U.S. has to submit data and reports to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). However, this is where it gets complicated because, unlike 168 other countries and the European Union, the U.S. hasn’t ratified UNCLOS due to political disagreements.
As a result, the resolution is complicated in international law. Additionally, claiming new maritime boundaries is controversial in the international arena. As a matter of fact, some of the most important geopolitical disputes of recent times have involved China and its neighbors (such as the Philippines and Vietnam) over their claims to the South China Sea.
What could happen if the U.S. gets the green light? If international bodies approve the U.S.’s request, it’ll create new possibilities and options for the country. For instance, expanding ocean territory in the Arctic Ocean could lead to increased mining, shipping, and fishing activities, despite the potential environmental damage.
Furthermore, it would significantly impact the country’s image and serve as an example of its power, given that with “just” a signature, the U.S. could add an extra area similar in size to Alaska or twice the size of California.
Image | Morgan Lane (via Unsplash)
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