The geopolitical and geo-economic significance of the Northern Sea Route

This chapter examines the geopolitical and geo-economic significance of the Northern Sea Route as part of the international transport system. Control over it provides access to the transportation of natural resources of the Arctic for the country, provides potentially safe and profitable international transit, and, in general, implements the effective inclusion of Russia in the international transport system, as well as provides a promising alternative to the Suez Canal and other southern transport routes for Russia in the context of ongoing climate change in the future. If the conflict in Ukraine is resolved, this could be a promising route for the East Asian countries, Nordic countries, Germany, and the Netherlands. Thus, there is a possibility of Russia increasing its geopolitical influence because it exercises control over the NSR. The development of national and foreign investment projects and the use of the NSR as a vital component of its national security, transport, and energy policies could result in robust development of the Russian economy, thus ensuring the strengthening of its internal resources and increasing its influence in geopolitics.