ОБЪЕДИНЯЯ ЕВРАЗИЮ: ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ СЕВЕРНОГО МОРСКОГО ПУТИ

Abstract

The article considers the history of the formation of the Northern Sea Route, reveals its importance as a transit artery, including in such key historical events of the history of Russia as the civil war of 1917–1922 and the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. The article also analyzes the current state of the Northern Sea Route, identifies opportunities, issues, and prospects for using that navigation route. The measures taken by the government of the Russian Federation for the further development of the modern icebreaker fleet are revealed. The importance of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation as a strategically important region due to its geopolitical potential and mineral reserves is noted. The article specifies the key role of the Arctic in ensuring Russia’s energy and economic security. It also discloses the main export-transit direction of Arctic communications. The author considers issues of the development of international cooperation in the Arctic and emphasizes the increasing relevance of the Northern Sea Route in the context of changing climatic conditions. In his opinion that navigation route is not only an effective alternative to the Suez Canal, but also an additional factor in Russia’s political and economic rapprochement with key Asian players, in particular, China