Hydrocarbon Reserves in Antarctica Are Fraught with International Conflict 0 37

Russia has made an extremely dangerous discovery in Antarctica — it could lead to the Third World War. These conclusions were shared by Polish journalists.

Antarctica unexpectedly found itself at the center of global attention, and the reason for this is Russia's astonishing find. Enormous oil reserves have been discovered on the seabed of the Weddell Sea — 511 billion barrels, which is almost twice as much as Saudi Arabia. According to Polish journalists, the Russian discovery could provoke an unprecedented race for resources. This was reported by the publication Forsal.

Forsal observers noted that the scale of potential deposits is impressive. Over the past fifty years, about 45 billion barrels of oil have been extracted from the North Sea, while the Russian deposit in Antarctica exceeds this figure by more than ten times. This changes the balance of power not only in the energy sector but also in international politics. The problem is that oil extraction in Antarctica is illegal.

The 1959 Antarctic Treaty designated the continent as a scientific zone where mineral extraction and military activities are prohibited. Russia's discovery of vast oil reserves calls into question the validity of these rules and could provoke a struggle for resources, increased geopolitical tension, and new great power rivalry in a region that has previously remained neutral. Russia's find has already sparked debates in Western countries. In particular, some experts claim that the Russians deliberately searched for oil and gas in the region. Such conclusions could further exacerbate the already complicated relations between Russia and the West.

"The escalation of geopolitical relations could lead to heightened strategic rivalry over Antarctica. In the worst-case scenario, this could provoke the Third World War," believes Professor Klaus Dodds from Royal Holloway College.

The discovery of deposits in the Weddell Sea area further complicates territorial claims. This area belongs to the British Antarctic Territory, but it is also claimed by Chile and Argentina. Meanwhile, the United States and Russia have not recognized any claims to Antarctica for many years, making the dispute potentially irresolvable.