PSI Effectiveness May Hinge on Law of the Sea Treaty Approval

U.S. Senate failure to ratify the U.N. Convention on Law of the Sea this year could harm Bush administration efforts to promote the Proliferation Security Initiative in Europe, according to treaty supporters (see GSN, May 11).

One ally, the Netherlands, has already threatened to reduce support for the WMD nonproliferation initiative if the maritime treaty is not ratified, the Scripps Howard News Service reported. Norway has also expressed concerns.

Ratified by more than 140 countries and in effect since the early 1990s, the convention governs a broad range of ocean activity, including fishing, shipping and offshore oil drilling. The treaty is supported in the Pentagon and by industry and environmental leaders.

The administration pushed for Senate ratification of the treaty earlier this year but dropped its support after several influential conservatives came out against it over concerns it would undermine U.S. sovereignty, according to treaty supporters.

Senate Republican leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has refused to bring it to the floor for a vote, saying the floor schedule is too busy.

However, the sea treaty has support among other Republicans.

“Countries that are participating in PSI have told me ... they feel strongly that the administration must get on board ‘Law of the Sea’ because it provides an international legalistic framework for PSI,” said Mark Helmke, chief of staff to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, (R-Ind.), a key supporter of the treaty.

The United States is the only member of the Proliferation Security Initiative that has not ratified the treaty. The initiative was designed to be compatible with the treaty, but that situation could change in November when the treaty is open for amendment for the first time, Scripps Howard reported. China, India and several other parties to the sea treaty have said they believe the proliferation initiative undermines their sovereignty (Joan Lowy, Scripps Howard News Service/Record Searchlight, May 27).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.