Round table on transport routes in the Arctic

Participants:

- Head of the Canada ISKRAN Department Natalya VYAHIREVA;

- Chief Researcher of the Center for Arctic Research of the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, General Director of the Center for Strategic Assessments and Forecasts Sergei GRINYAEV;

- Member of the RAS Scientific Council for the Study of the Arctic and Antarctic Mikhail GRIGORIEV;

- Head of the Center for Maritime Humanitarian Research of the Russian State University for the Humanities, advisor to the Chairman of the Maritime Collegium of the Russian Federation Konstantin MANASENKO.

On October 16, Moscow will host the International Expert Council on Cooperation in the Arctic.

The development of Arctic transport routes is increasingly linked to international security issues. The situation around Greenland, the intensification of joint actions by the United States and Canada, and the expansion of military cooperation in the region form a new agenda for states interested in using northern sea lanes. Exercise Arctic Edge 2026, held in Alaska and Greenland with the participation of the United States, Canada and Denmark, included testing of missile defense, critical infrastructure protection and force interaction in the Arctic.

At the same time, the interest of Asian countries in Arctic logistics is growing: a South Korean container ship has completed its passage along the Northern Sea Route to Europe; a pilot cargo flight from India is expected in 2027. China is also showing interest in the NSR.

How does the situation around Greenland affect the balance of power and the security of Arctic communications? What do increased cooperation between the United States and Canada and the results of the Arctic Edge exercises mean for Russia? How realistic is the corridor from China to the Arctic through Siberian rivers? Could new routes reduce global trade's dependence on vulnerable maritime hubs? What challenges and prospects arise for Russia?