Public policy for the development of maritime transport routes

In this chapter, the author analyses public policies for the development of maritime transport routes. The chapter reviews the primary strategic documents of the Russian Federation. The author states that just as in the policies of many countries, Russia’s maritime transport routes are officially established as significant components of state policies. However, unlike Russia, whose attention is focused on domestic socio-economic development due to its vast Arctic regions, for most countries in Europe and others, including the United States, this evolution is associated with strengthening their positions and influence in world trade. China uses transport infrastructure development within the “One Belt, One Road” concept and related concepts of the Maritime Silk Road as levers of economic power, political prestige, and soft power. This author states that maritime transport routes are directly interrelated with countries’ and regions’ political and economic development trends, ensuring their place in the world hierarchy. This determines the importance of “maritime strategy” in the policies of many countries, including Russia. The strategic documents of the Russian Federation demonstrate the government’s focus on the development of maritime transport routes. A special place in each of the documents considered is given to the Northern Sea Route.