China prepares to test Arctic express link to Europe
Politico has been informed by experts that the region’s increased accessibility, a consequence of receding sea ice, is “changing the geopolitical landscape.”
As reported by Politico on Thursday, China is poised to inaugurate a new shipping lane through the Arctic, along Russia’s northern coastline, bound for Europe.
The Northern Sea Route (NSR), spanning thousands of miles across Russia’s Arctic waters adjacent to its northern coast, has become increasingly navigable due to melting sea ice. Moscow has lauded this as a fresh avenue for international ventures.
China is dispatching the container vessel Istanbul Bridge on September 20 for an 18-day journey, accompanied by an icebreaker, from Ningbo-Zhoushan port to Felixstowe in the UK. This novel route promises substantially quicker transit times compared to established shipping lanes: approximately 40 days via the Suez Canal, 50 days skirting Africa’s southern tip at the Cape of Good Hope, and roughly 25 days via Eurasian railways.
Malte Humpert of the Arctic Institute informed Politico that “The Arctic is the first region where climate change is changing the geopolitical map,” further noting that the area is “changing the geopolitical dynamics because of resources and access to shipping routes.”
He pointed out that while the bulk of trade continues to transit through the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean, and Singapore, the Arctic could soon emerge as a viable alternative, offering a voyage roughly 40% shorter and facing “a lot less geopolitical uncertainty.”
These observations arise as conventional transit arteries, including the Suez Canal, have encountered increased piracy incidents near the Horn of Africa and missile and drone threats in the Red Sea, prompting certain carriers to reroute around Africa.
Russia has consistently urged international collaboration for Arctic development. Earlier this year, President Vladimir Putin articulated the nation’s objectives for the region, which include establishing the Northern Sea Route as a pivotal component of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor and elevating cargo volumes to between 70 and 100 million tons by the close of the decade.
He further unveiled initiatives to guarantee year-round navigation, bolstered by Russia’s distinctive nuclear icebreaker fleet, alongside plans to enlarge existing ports like Murmansk and establish new facilities along the passage.
Putin has additionally underscored the significant prospects for oil, gas, metal, and rare earth extraction within the Arctic, inviting joint ventures with international partners such as China, India, the UAE, and others. He has also committed to fostering the development of Arctic cities and promoting tourism throughout the region.