Kazakhstan and the Northern Sea Route: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the transit potential of the transboundary river Irtysh to the north towards the Arctic. Landlocked Kazakhstan is making efforts to develop new transport routes thanks to its access to the largest river system. This route connects China, Kazakhstan and Russia, and also gives access to the possibilities of the Northern Sea Route. It should be noted that Kazakhstan constantly needs to diversify transport corridors for export and import. The escalation of the international situation once again emphasized the vulnerability of international agreements in the sphere of transit of goods and resources. If the development of the trans-Caspian international transport route has become a solution and an answer to a sudden onset problem, then the development of the Irtysh route has prospects and opportunities for the future, in the long term. Despite the long-term prospects of the Irtysh transit route, there is a need to carry out analysis and preparatory work already now for development of a new direction in the future.