Tag: Northern Sea Route

Northern Silk Road

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Chinese long term bet. Together with Russia they are opening “ice Silk Road”

The Arctic is more often being mentioned, in recent years, in geopolitical contemplations. The disappearing ice and advancing technologies are turning the Arctic into a region that is attracting the attention of regional and world leaders. The newest example is China. They are now launching a regular line through the Arctic that is called “Ice Silk Road”.

The Chinese company Sea Legend is behind this line from the Chinese port Ningbo and the British Felixstowe. And the Chinese government considers it a part of the Belt and Road initiative.

The Northern Sea Route is shorter than the one through the Straits of Malacca and Suez. It is best navigable in the summer months but is passable also in winter accompanied by an icebreaker. It has a great potential, and Russia has been investing in the construction of critical infrastructure along the route. And if the Arctic sea ice recedes even further because of global warming the route will become even more navigable.

It took the Czech media roughly two weeks to report this.

Eurasian Trade Route Network

Russia is opening a route to India through the Iranian port Bandar-Abbas and Azerbaijan. Apparently other countries in the area such as Armenia are participating in this project. Armenia is trying to play it on both sides, and they seem to be doing it rather well.

It is rather sad that a similar project that would link India and the EU hasn’t yet gone through due to Gaza and Houthis.

Chennai-Vladivostok route.

Northern Sea Route, apparently 40% shorter than the journey from China through the Suez Canal. If Russia can get both China and India on board of development of the Arctic, they have won.