Geopolitical Dimensions of Russia’s Control over the Peanut Hole in the Okhotsk Sea: Sovereignty and the Challenges of International Maritime Law
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35335/legal.v14i6.1588Keywords:
Geopolitics , Maritime Law, Okhotsk Sea, Peanut Hole, RussiaAbstract
This research explores Russia’s geopolitical strategy in asserting control over the Peanut Hole in the Sea of Okhotsk, a strategically significant maritime area enclosed by Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The research addresses the tension between Russia's sovereignty claims and international maritime law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This research examines the legal complexities and geopolitical implications of Russia's policy to extend its jurisdiction beyond the 200-nautical-mile limit, asserting exclusive rights over seabed resources while the waters above remain classified as high seas. The analysis critically evaluates Russia's motivations, including economic interests in vital resources like fish, oil, and gas, and the broader implications for global maritime governance. The study concludes that Russia's actions, while legally contentious, reflect a strategic effort to enhance its economic resilience and military influence in the region. This case studies found the evolving challenges in reconciling national sovereignty with international legal frameworks, offering valuable insights into maritime resource management and geopolitical power dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region
Downloads
References
Blank, S. (2017). The Arctic and Asia in Russian Naval Strategy. The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, 29(4), 575–597. https://doi.org/10.22883/kjda.2017.29.4.005
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. (2015). The Subcommission established for the consideration of the Submission made by the Russian Federation.
Creswell, J. W. (2016). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
Eidnes, I. M., Batalden, B.-M., & Sydnes, A. K. (2019). Maritime Security and Threat Assessments. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, 13(4), 707–714. https://doi.org/10.12716/1001.13.04.02
FAO. (2023). Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics – Yearbook 2023. FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6788en
Goltz, J. K. (2015). Peanut Hole Politics. PHC, 14(1).
Goltz, J. K. (2019). The Sea of Okhotsk Peanut Hole: How the United Nations Draft Agreement on Straddling Stocks Might Preserve the Pollack Fishery. Washington International Law Journal, 4(2).
Grokipedia. (2025). Peanut Hole. Grokipedia. https://grokipedia.com/page/Peanut_Hole
Haines, J. R. (2014). ‘Ali Baba’s Cave’: The Sea of Okhotsk’s Contentious Triangle. Orbis, 58(4), 584–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orbis.2014.08.009
Herd, G. P. (2021). Russia’s Global Reach: A Security and Statecraft Assessment. The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
IEA. (2023). World Energy Outlook 2023. IEA. https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2023
Iswardhana, M. R. (2022). Sejarah Invasi Rusia di Ukraina Dalam Kaca Mata Geopolitik. In Konflik Rusia – Ukraina: Tinjauan dari Berbagai Perspektif (pp. 1–12). AIHII Press.
Iswardhana, M. R. (2023). Analisis Tata Kelola Maritim Indonesia: Implementasi Visi Pemerintah Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Jurnal Kebijakan Sosial Ekonomi Kelautan Dan Perikanan, 13(2), 125. https://doi.org/10.15578/jksekp.v13i2.12542
Iswardhana, M. R. (2024). The Indonesian government responds to protecting the natuna area through the utilization of national security. The International Journal of Politics and Sociology Research (IJOPSOR), 12(2), 147–156. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.35335/ijopsor.v12i2.262
Iswardhana, M. R. R. (2021). Kerjasama Maritim Indonesia-Amerika Serikat sebagai Implementasi Politik Poros Maritim Indonesia: BAKAMLA-US Coast Guard. JDP (JURNAL DINAMIKA PEMERINTAHAN), 4(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.36341/jdp.v4i1.1569
Krisyantono, R. (2014). Tehnik Praktis Riset Komunikasi. Prenanda.
Monaco, A., & Prouzet, P. (2015). Governance of Seas and Oceans. https://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/57575/1/André Monaco_2015.pdf
Muraviev, A. D. (2023). Battle Reading the Russian Pacific Fleet 2023-2030. https://seapower.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/Battle Reading the Russian Pacific Fleet 2023-2030_0.pdf
Nambi, K. (2025). The Curious Case Of A Peanut Hole In Russia’s Territorial Waters. Medium.Com. https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-curious-case-of-a-peanut-hole-in-russias-territorial-waters-8bcd4e164a3c
Preskar, P. (2024). The Peanut Hole, Pollock, and the (Very) Upset Russians. Medium.Com. https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-peanut-hole-pollock-and-the-very-upset-russians-c4f3c9e0678b
Priyanto, A., Sari, S., & Oktaviani, J. (2025). KEPENTINGAN RUSIA MEMPERTAHANKAN KLAIM KEPULAUAN KURIL DALAM SENGKETA WILAYAH DENGAN JEPANG DALAM KURUN WAKTU 2018-2022. Global Insights Journal, 1(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36859/gij.v1i2.2766
Reuters. (2024). Russia, China warships enter Sea of Okhotsk for drills, Interax reports. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russia-china-warships-enter-sea-okhotsk-drills-interax-reports-2024-09-24/
RFI. (2016). Nh?t và Nga s? khai thác m? d?u ? bi?n Okhotsk. RFI. https://www.rfi.fr/vi/chau-a/20130529-nhat-va-nga-se-khai-thac-mot-mo-dau-o-bien-okhotsk
Shuntov, V. P., Ivanov, O. A., & Dulepova, E. P. (2019). Biological resources in the Sea of Okhotsk Large Marine Ecosystem: Their status and commercial use. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 163, 33–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2019.01.006
Tanaka, Y. (2023). The International Law of the Sea. Cambridge University Press.
United Nations. (2024). Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) Outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines: Submissions to the Commission: Submission by the Russian Federation. United Nations Ocean & Law of The Sea. https://www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new/submissions_files/submission_rus.htm
USGS Report. (2022). MINERAL COMMODITY SUMMARIES 2022. https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022.pdf
Ushirogata, K. (2025). Global Maritime Military Strategy, 1980–2023. Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-2399-0
Volvenko, I. V. (2021). A database of net zooplankton of the Far East seas and adjacent Pacific Ocean waters. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2021-29
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 LEGAL BRIEF
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
