The question of who owns and should control the Arctic, the Northwest Passage and the areas natural resources is known as what?

• A. Northwest Passage Status
• B. Arctic sovereignty
• C. Arctic Claims
• D. Northern Resource Question

Answer: (B)

Arctic sovereignty is the term for questions about who owns and who can control the Arctic region, including its waters like the Northwest Passage and the natural resources found there. This concept covers governance, jurisdiction, and the rights to regulate shipping, exploration, and resource extraction, which is why it’s the best fit for naming the issue. International law, such as the Law of the Sea, shapes how these claims are made and disputed among countries like Canada, the United States, Denmark (via Greenland), and Russia, especially when routes like the Northwest Passage could be considered internal waters or international straits. The other phrases don’t capture the broader idea of ownership and governance over Arctic lands, waters, and resources.