Russia Wants India To Navigate Northern Sea Route

Russia is signalling openness to India for an Arctic power play in the 'Northern Sea Route' with a bigger geopolitical presence. India has a small permanent presence in the Arctic, but wants a larger toehold so it can also tap the vast natural resources of the Arctic.

Will the world soon see India's big Arctic entry? Discussions are underway about New Delhi's potential involvement in the development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), a new navigation corridor lying along the Russian shore in the Arctic. The question remains: will India, a long-standing partner of Russia, take steps towards exploring opportunities in this emerging sphere of Arctic geopolitics?

In a significant geopolitical and maritime instability, discussions are taking place on India's possible role in the Northern Sea Route (NSR) development - a rapidly emerging Arctic shipping corridor that promises to reshape global trade logistics. The NSR, which runs through the Arctic Ocean along Russia's northern coast, is up to 40% shorter than traditional southern maritime routes like the Suez Canal, offering faster, safer, and more cost-effective cargo movement between Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Vladimir Panov, Special Representative for Arctic Development at Rosatom-Russia's state-run nuclear energy corporation and the infrastructure operator of the NSR-highlighted the strategic importance of the route in an exclusive interview with NDTV during the World Atomic Week in Moscow, from September 25 to 28, 2025. Panov underlined that cooperation with countries interested in partnership in the Arctic region like India, could become an important factor in the NSR's future development.

India already has a permanent research station in the Arctic, named Himadri, located at the International Arctic Research base in Ny Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, approximately 1,200 kilometres from the North Pole. Established on July 1, 2008, Himadri serves as a hub for Indian scientific investigations into various fields, including atmospheric, oceanographic, and climate change studies. Last year India's Earth Science Minister Kiren Rijiju visited the Arctic and said, 'Life in the Arctic is so unique! India's research station Himadri in the Arctic is now made into a permanent station to be operational round the year!'

"The Northern Sea Route is not just a new shipping lane-it's the last major addition to global marine logistics for the next few centuries," said Panov. "Given the instability in traditional maritime corridors like the Red Sea and the rising threat of piracy in Southeast Asia, the NSR offers a safe and efficient alternative. And India, as a trusted long-term partner of Russia, has a vital role to play in this transformation."

Panov highlighted that Russia has already deployed eight nuclear icebreakers, including four of a new generation, to ensure year-round navigability of the NSR. These icebreakers carve channels through Arctic ice, enabling even non-ice-class vessels to traverse the route safely. He cited recent examples of Chinese cargo ships successfully completing NSR voyages in just 18 days-saving over three weeks compared to traditional routes.

India's interest in the NSR is not new. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow in July 2024, both nations agreed to establish a joint working group under their intergovernmental commission to explore cooperation in Arctic shipping. This group, co-chaired by Vladimir Panov and India's Special Secretary in Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Rajesh Kumar Sinha, held its first meeting in New Delhi in October 2024. Discussions included joint Arctic shipbuilding projects, training Indian sailors for polar navigation, and drafting a memorandum of understanding for cargo shipping cooperation along the NSR.

Panov underscored the economic rationale behind the NSR, stating, "Everything we do on the Northern Sea Route is connected to the economy. It cannot be just an experiment-it must be profitable and efficient. And India's sea trade with Russian ports has immense potential to shift to this route."

Beyond logistics, Panov also touched upon India's observer status in the Arctic Council-a multilateral forum comprising eight members - Arctic states. He pointed out that the Council's membership is determined by geographic criteria and noted that in today's interconnected world, economic and practical cooperation could also be an important basis for international dialogue.

"India is deeply connected to Arctic trade and logistics. It's time we move beyond politics and create a structure where all stakeholders are equal. We've already started this process with India through our bilateral format." Panov said.

This sentiment was echoed at the International Arctic Forum held in March 2025, where senior Indian and Russian officials brainstormed long-term development models for the NSR. Rosatom's Director General Alexey Likhachev made the case for increased cargo traffic and more icebreakers, projecting future volumes of up to 150 million tons.

India's strategic interest in the NSR also aligns with its broader energy security goals. The route offers uninterrupted access to Russian energy supplies, bypassing conflict-prone regions like the Red Sea. Indian officials have expressed interest in integrating the NSR with the Eastern Maritime Corridor and the North-South Transport Corridor, enhancing connectivity between India, Russia, and Europe.

Russia's engagement with India to join the NSR and help shape a new Arctic cooperation framework marks a pivotal moment in Indo-Russian relations. It reflects a shared vision for economic resilience, maritime innovation, and geopolitical balance in a rapidly changing world.