Sovereignty in the Arctic: the international legal context

The purpose of this chapter is to describe briefly the extent of the sovereignty and jurisdiction which Arctic states may exercise. Sovereignty represents the totality of the various types of jurisdiction possessed by a state within its territorial boundaries, subject only to certain limitations imposed by international law. Sovereignty extends not only horizontally but vertically, as per the old maxim usque ad coelum et ad infernos. Beyond its boundaries a state may exercise certain forms of jurisdiction over the marine and submarine areas of its coasts. In these areas coastal states may also have jurisdiction over straits, the extent of such jurisdiction depending on the precise legal nature of the waters of such straits and on whether or not they are used for international navigation. Beyond the offshore areas are the deep sea bed and the high seas.