Calls Grow for Multinational Treaty to Govern Arctic Shipping Through the Bering Strait
As climate change accelerates the retreat of Arctic sea ice, the Bering Strait has become a crucial maritime corridor, attracting growing global attention. A recent letter published in the Financial Times urges the development of a multinational treaty to manage the Bering Strait as a global commons, similar to the Antarctic model. This call for action comes amid growing concerns over the region’s limited infrastructure, environmental vulnerability, and rising shipping activity.
While Arctic shipping volumes remain modest compared to global maritime routes, data indicates a consistent increase in transits through the Bering Strait. According to official records, vessel passages rose from approximately 480 in 2012 to over 540 by 2015, with further growth continuing into 2024. These figures are expected to rise as longer ice-free seasons provide more navigable opportunities for tankers, LNG carriers, and bulk cargo vessels. Despite this growth, the Arctic remains unpredictable, with ice conditions in September 2024 demonstrating that the region’s summer navigation period can still be disrupted.
Scientific observations reveal that Arctic sea ice has declined by nearly 50 percent since 1979, with the navigable season expanding by about five days per decade. Researchers estimate that by mid-century, ice-free Arctic summers could become a regular occurrence. The implications of this trend are far-reaching, affecting global trade, energy logistics, and environmental conservation.
Proponents of the treaty argue that the Bering Strait’s narrow, hazardous passage is ill-equipped to handle increased marine traffic. Extreme weather, poor communication infrastructure, and the lack of search-and-rescue capabilities make the region particularly risky. These challenges, coupled with fragile ecosystems and limited environmental protections, raise the urgency for a formal, internationally coordinated governance structure.
The proposal draws comparisons to the Antarctic Treaty, which governs the southern continent through shared principles focused on environmental protection, scientific research, and demilitarization. A similar framework for the Bering Strait could establish designated shipping lanes, enforce environmental regulations, mandate emergency preparedness, and create marine protected areas. Such a treaty could be guided by recent multilateral efforts like the 2023 High Seas Treaty, which introduces tools for environmental impact assessments and biodiversity protection in international waters.
In addition to addressing ecological concerns, the treaty would aim to protect Indigenous communities whose traditional livelihoods rely on Arctic marine ecosystems. Increased shipping threatens not only biodiversity but also the cultural and subsistence practices of Indigenous populations across the Arctic region.
Nevertheless, the geopolitical complexities of the Arctic cannot be overlooked. The United States has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while Arctic powers such as Russia and China have growing strategic interests in the region. However, past cooperation, including joint proposals between Russia and the United States for shipping route designations under the International Maritime Organization, demonstrates that multinational collaboration is possible.
A treaty modeled on the Antarctic system would likely include regulated traffic corridors, shared emergency response systems, and representation from Arctic states, observers, and Indigenous groups. Such governance could offer a stable foundation for balancing economic opportunity with environmental responsibility.
Although some shipping companies remain cautious, citing logistical and geopolitical challenges, others continue to explore the viability of the Northern Sea Route and the role of Arctic ports. Regions such as Kirkenes in Norway and coastal cities in Alaska are positioning themselves as future logistical hubs, reinforcing the need for coordinated planning before uncontrolled expansion occurs.
As the Arctic becomes increasingly accessible, the Bering Strait is rapidly evolving into a strategic maritime chokepoint. Without formal regulation, the risks of ecological harm and navigational accidents are likely to intensify. A proactive treaty—modeled on successful precedents—may offer the best path forward to ensure safe, sustainable, and equitable management of one of the world's most vulnerable maritime frontiers.
