Ask Peter: Will the Russians Create a Great Northern Sea Route?

by Peter Zeihan on April 25, 2024

As the ice begins to melt in the Arctic, will the Russians be able to establish a shipping route to the north? While establishing a northern sea route is possible, it won’t be the gold mine its been made out to be.

There are several factors that make the Russian’s northern sea route impractical: the need for navigational aids, limited search and rescue capabilities, lack of development and population centers along the route, and a high cost per mile given the absence of stops along the way. That’s before we even mention the unreliable military presence in this region and the financial constraints on projects like nuclear-powered icebreakers.

While this idea has some merit, I wouldn’t plan on shipping anything via ‘Russian Northern Express” anytime soon.

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