The Arctic
Perhaps the most unlikely "hotspot," the frozen Arctic region has become a topic of international debate and desire in recent years, as warming seas and receding ice have world powers near and far licking their chops over the vast quantities of untapped oil and natural gas reserves believed to be up there. Regional players like Canada, the U.S. and Russia, as well as Nordic states such as Sweden and Denmark, have, in recent years, worked through the nebulous and mostly toothless Arctic Council to lay some ground rules for governing the Arctic. Even non-Arctic powers like India and China have gotten into the game, with the latter recently winning observer status on the council. In addition to the ample natural resources, the region is projected to become a treasure trove of "new" fisheries -- a huge business in China. (AP Photo)
