Russia keen on Indian involvement in Arctic – media

Moscow would like New Delhi to use the Northern Sea Route, which it sees as an effective alternative to the main shipping lanes

Russia is seeking to increase India’s involvement in the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and is offering the South Asian nation potential full membership in the Arctic Council, NDTV reported on Wednesday.

For Russia, collaboration with India, which is interested in Arctic partnerships, could play a crucial role in the future development of the NSR, Vladimir Panov, Russia’s special representative for Arctic development at Rosatom told the media outlet.

Russia has been developing the NSR, a transport corridor that runs through its Arctic and Far East regions and serves as the shortest shipping link between Europe and the Asia-Pacific. It is expected to become a major trade route for goods shipped between continents and could drastically reduce transportation times compared to traditional pathways through the Suez or Panama canals.

“The Northern Sea Route is not just a new shipping lane-it’s the last major addition to global marine logistics for the next few centuries,” Panov told NDTV. “Given the instability in traditional maritime corridors like the Red Sea and the rising threat of piracy in Southeast Asia, the NSR offers a safe and efficient alternative. And India, as a trusted long-term partner of Russia, has a vital role to play in this transformation.” 

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India has made small investments in the Arctic but aims to expand its foothold to access the region’s vast natural resources. The South Asian nation is an observer in the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum for cooperation among Arctic states and indigenous communities, established in 1996.

Panov noted that Russia has deployed eight nuclear icebreakers, including four of the latest generation, to guarantee year-round navigation of the route. These icebreakers create pathways through Arctic ice, allowing non-ice-class vessels to safely traverse the route. He cited examples of Chinese cargo ships completing NSR voyages in just 18 days, a significant reduction of over three weeks for the traditional routes. 

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined the development of the NSR as a strategic priority for the country.

Russia aims to increase annual cargo flows along the NSR to 200 million tons by 2030, with plans to upgrade northern seaports and expand its Arctic fleet.