; Whereas the past Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, retired Admiral Philip S. Davidson, stated that our accession to the UNCLOS would help our position legally across the globe and would do nothing to limit our military operations in the manner in which we’re conducting them now , on April 17, 2018, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Commander of United States Pacific Command, retired Admiral Harry B. Harris, stated I believe that UNCLOS gives Russia the potential to, quote, unquote own almost half of the Arctic Circle, and we will not have that opportunity because of, we’re not a signatory to UNCLOS , on March 15, 2018, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Commander of United States Pacific Command, retired Admiral Harry B. Harris, stated I think that by not signing onto it that we lose the credibility for the very same thing that we’re arguing for , and which is the following—accepting rules and norms in the international arena. The United States is a beacon—we’re a beacon on a hill but I think that light is brighter if we sign on to UNCLOS , on February 23, 2016, at a hearing before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired General Joseph F. Dunford, stated that by remaining outside the Convention, the United States remains in scarce company with Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and Syria and by failing to join the Convention, some countries may come to doubt our commitment to act in accordance with international law , on July 9, 2015, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate