On 04 March, Rena Lee, President of the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), announced that “the ship has reached the shore,” referring to the last compromise and successfully negotiated to stumble block of this historic treaty, which marked the apogee of over two decades of negotiations to protect the ample internationally ungoverned space of the ocean. The last time the countries came together to gather political will during geopolitical tensions to protect biodiversity was on 01 December 1959 during the cold war to declare Antarctica a place for peace and science.

Four Takeaways

The draft agreement of the ‘The New High Seas Treaty’ emphasises the need to address the planet’s largest unregulated biosphere for the sustainable use of resources and biodiversity protection. It covers the expansive portion of the ocean beyond national boundaries and will provide a legal framework for designating vast marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect against marine life degradation and sharing of resources. It is necessary to identify, monitor and regulate vulnerable areas to address the commitment of protecting 30 Percent by 2030 endorsed by COP 15 in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022. Exit options and other unique provisions for the Arctic or China Sea and other geopolitically tense areas are also mentioned to avoid disagreements and conflicts within the agreement. 

The stumbling block of this treaty was how to appropriately share marine genetic resources (MGR) and wealth, which separated the Global South and North. Due to their potential for application in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, MGR, which are made up of the genetic material of bacteria, corals, krill, seaweed, and deep-sea marine sponges, are gaining more scientific and commercial interest.

The agreement is legally binding and establishes a new global authority for the high seas, complete with an executive body called “COP,” a secretariat, and a scientific council. It is based on certain principles and approaches like the polluter-pays principle, the principle of the common heritage of humankind, the freedom of marine scientific research, and other freedoms of the high seas.

In addition, an approach for maintaining and restoring ecosystem integrity, including the carbon cycling functions that support the ocean’s role in climate while also increasing ecosystems’ resilience, is practiced. Signatories are also tasked with conducting environmental impact assessments before exploitation, exchanging marine technology with other littoral states, and monitoring the space for other threats.

What are the High Seas and the threats present on them?

States currently govern up to only 200 nautical miles of seas from their coasts, delineated by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). But beyond the nautical boundaries are the high seas, which only one percent are protected. States have access to freedoms, including the right to overfly, navigate, and install underwater cables. The high seas cannot be the subject of any claims to sovereignty. Once expressed as desolate, it is now considered a treasury of rich biodiversity and marine resources. However, they are being exploited by technological advances enabling them to deplete fisheries and seabed minerals. Deep-sea ecosystems may change or be destroyed by machine-aided excavation and gauging of the ocean bottom. As a result, there will be a loss of species in addition to fragmentation or loss of the structure and functionality of the ecosystem.

 Increasing cargo ship transportation and their Bilge Dumping practices also threaten the open ocean. Bilgewater, which gathers in the bottom of a ship, is a mixture of fluids from the engine room and other potentially harmful materials like lubricants, cleaning agents, and metals like lead and arsenic. It is expensive to process this oily effluent, whether by treating it to eliminate contaminants or by discharging it at the port. Some ships simply dump it into the ocean with portable pumps, which can be a significant hazard to marine life, to save operational expenses.

 Another threat in the high seas is the Great garbage patch, which carries and culminates tonnes of plastic debris released through river exits. They are carried and formed by ocean currents and “gyres.” There are five gyres in the ocean. One in the Indian Ocean, two in the Atlantic Ocean, and two in the Pacific Ocean. Garbage patches of differing sizes are located in each gyre. Cleaning up these garbage heaps and systematically disposing of them is a heinous task.

In addition, Climate change is heating the oceans, which may result in a mass extinction of marine life like the Permian Extinction experienced 250 million years ago, which extinguished 90 percent of marine species. The oceans have mitigated the worst of climate change by absorbing 90 percent of the heat caused by global warming and providing us with 50 percent of the oxygen.

What are the existing treaties on High Seas, and what are their issues?

About 20 international organisations oversee human activity in the high seas in accordance with UNCLOS, although their authority is constrained. In the shipping industry, for instance, the International Maritime Organization is in charge of safety and pollution control, whereas regional fisheries management organisations are in charge of particular fish populations. Yet, a lot of marine species migrate and regularly switch between various environments into the wild ocean which are unprotected from human activities.

The International Seabed Treaty is less concerned with conserving the environment and more interested in advancing the ultimate extraction of valuable mineral accretions from the seabed. Exploratory mining licences have never been denied. The contracting entity does environmental impact assessments; they are not independently verified and investigated. The ISA dismisses the worries of environmental groups like Greenpeace about defending the seabed from similar mining in the future or from the several very detrimental environmental side effects that would be involved.

What does the treaty pose to International Security?

First, an increased presence of private players. The implementation process of the treaty will see an increased presence of private maritime players as the agreement does not apply to the Navy warships. However, they are expected to behave reasonably with the agreement. Ocean conservation is currently led by non-governmental organisations funded by philanthropists, bureaucrats, and governments.

Second, increased monitoring and surveillance. To assess environmental impacts, monitor and traffic control ships, and provide constant surveillance over an expansive area will require advanced remote sensing and imaging technologies. There will be a need for marine spatial analysis and planning to track human activities and the ecosystem. New marine technologies must be exchanged between the developing and developed states to explore the deep ocean and seabed’s for research and exploitation. Increased monitoring will be a critical challenge for the littoral states to move their submarines in stealth and secrecy.

Third, potential for new marine resource-induced conflict. Though the agreement states that the marine samples and genetic coding will be shared, it does not mention who can further exploit the resources and with whom it shares. Does it share with the states involved in the exploration or those proximate to the resource.? Here, Global North faces the question of the free-riding problem and whom to free-ride its services.

In June 2010, Obama’s new National Space Policy (NSP) emphasizes a broad continuity between its main goals and the overarching themes originally developed by the Eisenhower administration, such as the use of space and strengthening space stability. Other goals evolved directly from original U.S. space policy goals, including expanding international cooperation, nurturing U.S. space industry, and enhancing the assurance and resilience of mission-critical functions enabled by commercial, civil, scientific and national spacecraft and supporting them infrastructure. Thus, National Space Policy of U.S and also National Security Space Strategy (NSSS) of U.S is seeking to emphasizes international cooperation through its pillars and also point from policy

Five Pillars of National Security Space Strategy of U.S

The National Security Space Strategy (NSSS) provides a roadmap for the implementation of US space policy and the achievement of U.S space objectives. It consists of five basic principles or pillars that prescribe the framework.

Promote the Responsible, Peaceful and Safe Use of Space

The NSSS first pillar calls on the United States “to lead in improving security, stability and responsible spatial behavior” and to develop transparency and confidence-building measures that “encourage responsible spatial action and peaceful use”. As stated in the National Space Policy, there are specific steps that include national and international actions that aim to promote safe and responsible spatial operations, improve information collection and sharing, which is to prevent collisions between spatial objects, protect critical spatial systems and infrastructure support, with special emphasis on critical interdependence and reinforcement of space and information systems.

Provide improved U.S Space Capabilities

The NSS second pillar calls on the U.S. to improve space capabilities and energize the U.S. industrial space base. In addition, the existence of a strong industrial base and staff support is also one of the U.S. country’s best insurance policies, in the strategic, operational, economic and technological fields referred to in the new defense strategy.

Partnering with Responsible Nations, International Organizations, and Commercial Firms

The third pillar calls for greater involvement and partnership with other space-based countries, relevant international organizations and business actors. To guard the third pillar in US Space Policy and ready to face future strategic circumstances, the US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is one of the main organizations responsible for safeguarding these benefits in the face of changing strategic circumstances and the US uses the National Security Space Strategy (NSSS) as means to maintain this benefit. Meanwhile, there is a specific geographical responsibility area (AOR) that is not assigned to USSTRATCOM. So that the responsibility is only limited to below sea level, which is used as a place for strategic U.S. submarines operating, up to 22,000 miles above the surface of the earth.

United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) engage actively in this pillar and have signed more than 29 agreements with several business entities that were then used to share situational awareness with many selected information partners. Recently, U.S. country in this case it has been authorized to negotiate similar agreements with non-U.S. government agencies and intergovernmental organizations, to work with space actors who are supposed to be responsible for the process of sharing and exchanging space flight information security. Also, USSTRATCOM actively seeks further partners, in particular those with whom little or no previous commitment has been made. State U.S. has also partnered with old friends and allied countries such as Australia, Canada, Britain and other NATO allies who are always involved with them. Moreover, this is done while looking for new opportunities to work with potential partners in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

Prevent and Deter Against U.S Space Infrastructure

U.S. space infrastructure basically an U.S. component vital. This is seen in how U.S. want to protect this asset. Space defense also certainly requires a full understanding of the operating environment, which allows U.S. warnings. to be recognized and effective protection of U.S. assets, provide resilience, and use alternatives when challenged. This fourth NSSS pillar, which is “preventing and deterring U.S. space infrastructure,” includes operations to gain and understand the location, activities, ownership and purposes of space-based objects. In point of Prevent and deter against U.S space infrastructure mentioned about international cooperation; the point is;

 “Sensitivity to space situations (SSA) enables all our operational activities. An important way to increase SSA’s capacity and capacity would be to expand partnerships and increase international cooperation. To this end, we want to transform California’s Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) into a Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC).”–  U.S Department of Defense

Initially, such a step would enable us to influence individual strengths in full cooperation with U.S closest partners and, in accordance with national policies, provide a framework and environment that might help meet the needs of common space security. In addition, such a transition would conform to the mandate of the NSSS “build coalitions of like-minded nations that share space”.This partnership would allow the U.S. to act in a coordinated manner, synchronize U.S. efforts and promote responsible spatial behavior with these partners to ensure long-term spatial sustainability.

Prepare to Defeat Attacks and Operated in a Degraded Environment

The final pillar of the NSSS calls on the United States to prepare to defeat space attacks and operate in a degraded environment. This approach will generally always include activities to provide critical space capabilities for U.S. missions. and coalition forces. Besides that, it is also used to ensure the success of the mission through architecture and alternative means, even if necessary, under all conditions of conflict and pressure.

The guarantee mission includes the need to maintain and protect the capabilities of the US critical space itself, US allies and partner countries, and also to improve the resilience of critical space systems, increase the use of alternative means and resources to secure the space mission, not to mention the ability to operate in a stressed environment if and when the capacity is degraded.

Several successive U.S. administrations have sought to maintain the leadership of the country in the field since the United States entered space. There’s no exception to the Obama administration. It openly emphasizes efforts to strengthen U.S. in its National Security Space Strategy and National Space Policy. Leadership in outer space in particular. These efforts include reassuring U.S. allies ‘ commitment to collective self-defence in space-related forums and activities; promoting regulations and encouraging interoperability within these regulations; promoting security, stability and responsible space behaviour, facilitating new market opportunities for U.S. commercial space capabilities and services, advancing appropriate risk-sharing amounts.

Recall Multilateralism from Obama’s Space Policy

The Obama administration incorporates multilateralism into one of the policy’s six major objectives, the policy’s goals of expanding international cooperation on mutually beneficial space activities are mentioned. The space policy of Obama will make U.S. space policy more conducive to multilateral space efforts. In its National Security Space Strategy and National Space Policy, the U.S. adopted the National Security Strategy, which aims to maintain and enhance the benefits of U.S. space advertising capabilities resulting from national security. The NSSS set specific goals for enhancing security, stability, to accomplish the tasks assigned by the NSSP. And space security; maintaining and enhancing strategic space-based national security; maintaining and enhancing the US’s strategic space-based national security benefits; and energizing the space-based industrial base that supports US national security.

Obama’s new National Space Policy (NSP) highlights a broad continuity between its main goals and the overarching themes originally developed by the Eisenhower administration, such as the use of space and enhancing space stability. Obama still wishes to emphasize international cooperation, which can be seen under the heading. “Space operations should be conducted in ways that emphasize openness and transparency in order to increase public awareness of activities” and, “All nations have the right to explore and use space for peaceful purposes under the NSP Principles and the other side mentioned in the NSP Goals, which is Support International Cooperation”.

At this stage, the National Space Policy and National Security Space Strategy during Obama administration indirectly also applied the Multilateralism. This can be seen in policies that emphasize and invite to conduct international cooperation in space matters. For example, are, Obama fully supported the life of NASA through increased funding budget to NASA through NASA authorization act 2010 and U.S was hosted the International Space Station (ISS) Multilateral Coordination Board Joint Statement 2010 and also Obama through U.S NSP and NSSS implement multilateralism efforts towards Global Positioning System (GPS) Cooperation.

This is stated in the National Space Policy and National Security Space Strategy of U.S issued during Obama administration. One of the most obvious instances of U.S. international cooperation for peaceful space purposes is demonstrated by the International Space Station (ISS). Aboard the ISS, 15 countries cooperate, sharing international flight crew, several globally distributed launch vehicles, operations, training, engineering and development facilities. In addition, communication, the Global Positioning System (GPS) Cooperation, and the ISS Multilateral Coordination Board. 

The approach taken by President Obama is very different from his predecessor. He was aggressive with space policy by issuing the 2010 United States of America’s National Space Policy and the 2011 Strategy for National Security Space. President Obama spoke about the contributions of civil and commercial space capabilities in his space policy. The US has also committed to encouraging and facilitating the growth of the US commercial space sector that supports the country’s domestic needs. Thus, the space success heritage and its transformation also pose new challenges. The possibilities of using space were limited to just a few nations when the space age began and there were limited consequences for irresponsible or unintended behavior.

Lastly, Obama also abandoned the unilateralism of Bush and pursue/emphasizing multilateralism would be given top priority in dealing with international affair. Platform of multilateralism efforts during Obama period are concentrate in joint scientific and research program. To support joint scientific and research program in space, Obama make decision to extend the life of U.S on International Space Station in order to giving more U.S contribution and offer transparency scientific research program at International Space Station (ISS) and the decision of Obama based on writer perspective change U.S view in term of space towards more opened transparency and cooperation among other states. Even though, U.S still want to be leader in space, at least this multilateralism effort which mentioned by Obama on his speech and also each point of NSSS and NSP can bring a new perspective about U.S in space.

Thousands of wars and millions of deaths, Earth has faced dramatic turns that we can witness throughout the history. Each and every battle brought tremendous changes. Changes that touched technology, changes that carved demography, changes that infused and, in some cases, erased cultures, languages and religions. In some cases, these adjustments were present from the first day of the war, somewhere the pace was relatively slow but inevitably obvious. War and prewar periods are remarkably studied in terms of reasons and outcomes that led to aggression but postwar is that period which we should never turn a blind eye to as thinking and believes don’t vanish over a night, especially when it comes to sides that lost.

We can surely admit that prewar period can be compared to the process of heating up oil, there are many ingredients that lead to disastrous outcomes like language, race, religion and general beliefs. Combinations may differ as there are quite many concomitant circumstances but once temperature is high enough, one spark can trigger war flames that soon or late evaporate and condense into precipitation that irrigates the land with blood.

The cooling process has many variations and side effects that depend on both prewar, the period of war and postwar itself. Whether the winner / loser was from offensive or defensive side and if there was a prewar propaganda or not. Also, if that was full or partial victory/ loss. These factors do outline the speed of cooling and for Germany, Italy and Japan that was almost the same post WWll story.

The end of World War II carried a tide of collapse and destruction to Germany. The country was left in the wreckage, and its people stumbled to reconstruct their lives. Post-war Germany was a period of grand challenges and momentous transformations that would shape the country’s destiny for decades.

The downfall of Nazi Germany sketched the end of one of the most influential confrontations in human chronology. Nevertheless, it also left the country separated and occupied by the Allied Powers – the USA, the UK, France, and the USSR. Germany was partitioned into four domain zones, each controlled by one of the Allied Powers. The division of Germany would lead to the shape of two separate states, the FRG (Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)) and the GDR (German Democratic Republic (East Germany)).

Severe economic challenges indicated the post-war epoch in Germany. The country’s infrastructure had been demolished, and its citizens had lost their homes. The expense of reconstructing Germany was staggering, and the country relied heavily on alien aid. The Marshall Plan, a US endeavor to revamp Europe after the warfare, recreated a critical role in Germany’s financial comeback.

The post-war period also saw influential political shifts in Germany. The Nazi party was prohibited, and considerable associates were tried and sentenced for war crimes. The Nuremberg trials, a series of military tribunals carried out in Nuremberg, Germany, were one of the most substantial lawful proceedings in contemporary history. They fetched to justice numerous of the top heads of the Nazi party, including Hermann Goering and Rudolf Hess.

In addition to the trials, Germany experienced substantial political reforms. The country embraced a fresh constitution in 1949, which specified a democratic government and ensured fundamental rights and freedoms to its citizens. The constitution furthermore designated the FRG as a federal state with a decentralized political system.

Social transformations also characterized the post-war period in Germany. The country experienced consequential urbanization, with many people shifting from rural regions to cities searching for employment. This migration was directed to developing new urban hubs, such as Frankfurt and Munich, which would evolve momentous monetary and cultural crossroads.

Germany’s cultural topography also experienced remarkable metamorphoses in the post-war period. The country encountered a cultural renaissance with the emergence of unique academic and creative movements.

The post-war period in Germany was a duration of tremendous challenges and substantial changes. The country had to reconstruct its infrastructure, economy, and political and social institutions. Nonetheless, Germany materialized from this period as democratic, prosperous, and culturally resonant only after twenty years, as ideology and identification did not change overnight. The lessons learned from the post-war period shaped Germany’s political and cultural landscape.

After World War II, Italy encountered the daunting task of reconstructing a nation that had sorrowed massive losses during the warfare. The country was in shambles, with municipalities and infrastructure shattered and its economy in tatters. Nonetheless, despite the monumental challenges, Italy tended to recuperate, and in the years that followed, the country experienced substantial economic blossoming, political strength, and a cultural renaissance.

The years following World War II were characterized by political disruption, with Italy transitioning from a fascist dictatorship under Benito Mussolini to a democratic country. In 1946, the country had a nationwide referendum, which resulted in the dissolution of the monarchy and the installation of the Italian Republic. The new government was established on a constitution that assured civil liberties, human freedoms, and self-ruling democracy.

The post-war period was furthermore denoted by economic adversity. Italy’s economy had been heavily impaired during the warfare, with manufactories and infrastructure eradicated, and farming disrupted. Inflation was teeming, and unemployment was high. To handle these challenges, the Italian government enforced a series of policies to reconstruct the economy, including land reforms, infrastructure acquisition, and industrial zone organization.

One of the most remarkable outcomes during this period was the Marshall Plan. The United States embarked on this initiative in 1948, supplying billions of dollars in aid to European countries, including Italy, to help reconstruct their economies. The finances were employed to finance undertakings such as the building of highways, railways, and ports and to sustain the growth of industries such as steel, chemicals, and machinery.

The Marshall Plan, along with the government’s financial policies, had an effective influence on Italy’s thrift. By the 1950s, the country was encountering economic maturation, known as the “economic miracle.” Industrial production advanced, and the country’s GDP multiplied, making Italy one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe.

The post-war period also glimpsed a cultural renaissance in Italy, with practical outcomes in literature, cinema, and the arts.

In conclusion, the post-war period in Italy was characterized by momentous political, economic, and cultural outcomes. Despite the tremendous challenges confronted by the country, Italy managed to reconstruct its economy, appoint a democratic government, and assemble a spirited cultural scene. The heritage of the post-war period is still obvious in Italy today, with the country’s economy staying one of the largest in Europe and its cultural legacy persisting in enlightening and impacting people worldwide. And same as Germany, this miracle happened with help of time and financial aid. It took more than a decade to redirect social ideology and rebuild a nation.

The end of World War II in 1945 marked a turning moment in the history of Japan. The war destroyed the country and it encountered tremendous challenges in reconstructing its economy, society, and political system. Nevertheless, despite the challenging cases, Japan appeared as one of the world’s leading economic powers in just a few decades.

After the war, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the USA. The occupation endured from 1945 to 1952 and was marked by effective reforms that desired to democratize and contemporize Japanese society. Among the reforms was the adoption of a new constitution, which designated a democratic government approach and guarded individual rights and freedoms. The constitution abandoned war to resolve global conflicts, significantly passing Japan’s aggressive history.

The domain powers also launched substantial economic reforms to update Japan’s economy and stimulate economic development. One of the most significant benchmarks was the abolition of the zaibatsu, the enormous empires that had conquered Japan’s economy before the war. The zaibatsu was shattered into smaller companies, and new limitations were submitted to contain syndicates and facilitate honest competition.

Despite its challenges, Japan’s economy started to heal in the 1950s. The government enforced various policies to stimulate economic development, including funding infrastructure and boosting exports. The Japanese people also recreated a critical role in the retrieval, working hard to reconstruct their country and assemble a more promising future for themselves and their families.

The post-war epoch in Japan was not without its challenges. The country encountered momentous social and political convulsions. Like Germany and Italy, it took quite a long time and financial aid to change its ideology and transform into a new nation.

               We can certainly admit that great changes in post war period can happen only when lost side fully redirects its identity and ideology with an intensive financial aid alongside with dedicated supervision from outside. Similar to cancer, financial aid and supervision from outside is like chemotherapy, if such was not administered, healing remission faces its end, cancer strikes back and death is inevitable.