The 2022 Canada-Denmark/Greenland Maritime Boundary Agreement: A Model for Rules-Based International Order and a Stepping Stone to Greater Cooperation

Abstract for Scopus Indexing: Settlement of territorial and maritime boundary disputes provide legal certainty and may pave the way for sustainable development and cooperation. This is the case globally and not least in the Arctic, a region opening up due to climate change. For 50 years Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark have not come to agreement over the sovereignty of the island of Tartupaluk (Hans Island) and the maritime delimitation in the Lincoln Sea. The overlapping continental shelf beyond 200 M in the Labrador Sea became apparent approximately a decade ago. The Parties settled these outstanding boundary issues when a new boundary agreement was signed on 14 June 2022. The agreement supports efforts to maintain the Arctic region as a low-tension area of cooperation and has come about after Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark, following a common political desire, intensified efforts in recent years to reach a unified negotiated solution.