India and Russia discuss cooperation on Arctic Northern Sea Route

India and Russia are engaged in active discussions to deepen cooperation regarding the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in the Arctic. Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal indicated a desire to expand the strategic partnership, which New Delhi describes as an ‘especially privileged strategic partnership.’

Simultaneously, the Arctic is seeing increased maritime activity due to climate-driven ice melt. While the NSR is controlled by Moscow, recent navigation data shows that international transit on the route has been increasingly dominated by China. Chinese vessels are exploring the route as a shorter alternative to the Suez Canal, which avoids the security risks of the Red Sea. However, environmental groups warn that increased shipping in the region could further accelerate polar ice melting.