Opinion | Modi-Putin Arctic Pact Reflects Depth Of Collaboration With Moscow |
During Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi on December 4-5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Russian President formalised an Arctic partnership that signals a recalibration of India’s strategic positioning. It was a declaration that India and Russia intend to jointly command new frontiers of global commerce and strategic influence.
The Arctic, long viewed as a distant periphery, has transformed into the centerpiece of 21st century trade and energy security. As ice melts and new passages open, the nations that position themselves first will shape the architecture of global logistics for decades. PM Modi understands this. So does Putin. And their agreement suggests both leaders have concluded that the Arctic will not wait for Western consensus on its development.
The Strategic Geography of Polar Trade
The Northern Sea Route represents the most consequential trade route in modern maritime history. A journey from Murmansk to Yokohama that requires 22 days through the Suez Canal takes merely 10 days via the Arctic. Alternatively, the distance can be reduced by 40 per cent compared to traditional routes, translating into dramatically lower fuel costs and faster delivery times.
For India, it carries existential significance. Currently, India depends on the Suez Canal and Strait of Malacca; chokepoints controlled by external powers, vulnerable to geopolitical disruption, and subject to congestion that drives up shipping costs. The Northern Sea Route offers India what no other power can provide: an alternative conduit to European and Central Asian markets that bypasses these traditional vulnerabilities.
During their summit, PM Modi and Putin formally accelerated three strategic trade corridors: the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor, and the Northern Sea Route itself. Together, these corridors reduce journey times by up to 40 days and shave off more than 16,000 kilometres from standard routes. PM Modi made it clear that “progress will be made in this direction soon. This will reduce transit times, lower costs, and open up new markets for........