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I somehow doubt that the major world powers that might have the capability or inclination to occupy a depopulated Alaska or Nunavut would put much credence in o
by walrus01 2mo ago
I somehow doubt that the major world powers that might have the capability or inclination to occupy a depopulated Alaska or Nunavut would put much credence in or be scared by a strongly worded opinion issued by the ICJ. One of them is busy trying to invade their European neighbor right now with bloody results. The other one is on a major island building project in the South China Sea turning sandbars and coral reefs into air bases to claim the oceanic territory.
- rahimnathwani 2mo agoWhen you said "It's a fairly well established geopolitical principle." I assumed you were talking about the legal aspect. That's why I responded the way I did. Now I understand you're talking about not about the legality, but the practicality. That's even easier to refute I think: if a world power wanted to annex that part of Alaska, the ~4000 current residents of Nome wouldn't be much of a deterrent, even with their hunting rifles.
- walrus01 2mo agoNo, they certainly wouldn't, but in the realpolitik of war, they would provide the justification for the USA to engage in an armed response to retain the territory. Basically think of the two scenarios of what would happen in the Falklands in 1982 if either: a) the islands were claimed by the UK but also completely unpopulated and were occupied by Argentina or b) what actually happened, the islands were occupied by almost entirely UK-descent, English speaking subjects of the Crown, resulting in subsequent military action that had broad and overwhelming public support in the UK.