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The world’s two most trusted and oldest strategic partners, India and Russia, are now going to take a revolutionary step in the field of global trade and energy security, which will change the picture of maritime geography and geopolitics of the entire world. India and Russia are now preparing to work together rapidly on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most ambitious dream project ‘Northern Sea Route’ (NSR). Through this mega project, a new and shorter maritime trade route will be created by breaking the dangerous ice chest of the Arctic Ocean, which will emerge as an alternative to the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz and the traditional Suez Canal. This historic initiative will not only significantly reduce the trade distance and cost between the two countries, but will also create a new upheaval in the global supply chain, on which the whole world is keeping a close eye.
What is Russian President Putin’s dream project ‘NCR’ (NSR)?
The main objective of this dream project ‘Northern Sea Route’ of Russian President Vladimir Putin is to open for navigation those icy and inaccessible waterways of the Arctic Ocean, which remain covered with thick sheets of ice for most of the year. This plan of the Russian President will not only connect Russia’s northern coasts to Europe and Asia, but will also reduce transportation times by more than half compared to traditional sea routes. Moscow has been building the world’s most powerful icebreaker fleet to develop this route for the past several years. Now India’s direct and active participation in this huge project has given it a global dimension, which is expected to change the entire map of Eurasian trade.
Why is there a need for an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz and Suez Canal?
At present, most of the trade between India and Russia passes either through traditional European routes or through the sensitive Strait of Hormuz in West Asia and the Suez Canal in the Red Sea. In the last few years, due to Houthi attacks, regional war situations and ever increasing geopolitical tension in West Asia, there has been a huge crisis regarding the safety of ships on these traditional routes. Additionally, shipping goods through the Suez Canal requires huge amounts of both time and fuel, leading to global inflation and skyrocketing logistics costs. To avoid all these security risks and economic losses, countries around the world were now looking for a safe and alternative trade route that would not be affected by any third country or regional conflict.
Why will ‘Northern Sea Route’ prove to be a gamechanger for India?
This Northern Sea Route can prove to be a historic gamechanger from the point of view of Indian economy and energy security. India imports a large part of its needs from Russia in the form of crude oil, coal and other natural minerals. If this Arctic route becomes fully operational throughout the year, there will be a huge saving of about 40 percent in the time of sending goods between India and Russia. The time currently taken to reach Indian ports from St. Petersburg or Murmansk ports will be significantly reduced through this new route, which will significantly reduce transportation costs. Additionally, through this route, India will be able to ensure direct access to the vast natural resources and rare mineral reserves of the Arctic region, which are essential for the future high-tech economy.
Melting of Arctic ice and big challenges of environmental protection
Even though this project seems very attractive economically and strategically, there are many formidable natural and technical challenges standing in its way. The Arctic region’s extreme climate, severe cold, and months of darkness make operating ships extremely dangerous. This requires nuclear-powered icebreaker ships equipped with state-of-the-art technology that can cut through thick ice layers and make a path. Along with this, there is also concern being expressed by environmentalists and climate scientists at the international level that increasing the movement of commercial ships in the Arctic may have a negative impact on the delicate ecosystem there and global warming. Overcoming all these challenges will be a big test for the joint technical teams of Russia and India.
What will be the impact on global politics and China’s role?
In this entire geo-strategic development, America and Western countries are also keeping a close eye on China’s position and its increasing Arctic activities. China is already trying to expand its foothold in the Arctic region through its ‘Polar Silk Road’. In such a situation, this bilateral partnership between India and Russia will play an important role in maintaining the balance of power in the region. This friendship between Moscow and New Delhi is continuously getting stronger despite all the sanctions from western countries. With the materialization of this project, Russia will get a secure Asian market for its energy exports, while India will get a surefire and safe means of diversifying its energy security, which will decide the condition and direction of global trade in the coming decades.