Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said India is among the countries actively discussing cooperation with Moscow on the Northern Sea Route, an Arctic shipping corridor that Russia is seeking to expand as an international trade route.
Putin said Russia remained open to working with countries interested in using the route, provided such cooperation remains within international maritime law. He identified India and China among the countries showing growing interest in discussions surrounding the Arctic corridor.
The comments indicate that India is engaged in discussions with Russia over the potential use and development of the Northern Sea Route, although they do not suggest that New Delhi has entered into any new agreement concerning the passage.
The Northern Sea Route runs along Russia’s Arctic coastline and offers a potentially shorter maritime connection between Europe and Asia compared with traditional routes through the Suez Canal. Russia has been investing heavily in Arctic infrastructure, icebreakers and shipping capabilities to increase traffic along the route.
Putin also issued a warning over the seizure or detention of Russian linked commercial vessels by Western countries, describing such actions as piracy and robbery. He said Russia would respond if its ships were targeted and suggested that any retaliation could take place far from the location of the original seizure.
The warning comes amid growing tensions over Western sanctions and measures against vessels suspected of helping Russia evade restrictions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has increasingly deployed naval vessels to escort commercial ships, while its authorities have discussed inspecting merchant vessels associated with countries Moscow considers unfriendly and ships believed to form part of Russia’s so called shadow fleet.
Several European countries have taken action against tankers suspected of being part of the network, while the European Union has imposed sanctions on hundreds of vessels.
Former Russian president and Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev has also warned that Moscow could take broader measures against merchant vessels linked to countries it considers hostile.
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