Russia and its peoples are blessed by providence; the huge landscape and the rich abundance of all kinds of natural resources are now and have always been a source of Russia’s power and prestige. History reveals that the sizeable landscape not only provides resources, but is also a great source of Russia’s natural defence against aggressors. However, besides these natural blessings, Russia’s belligerent neighbours have always tried to contain Russia’s ascent towards progress and prosperity.
Russia and its neighbourhood
In the contemporary times, Russia’s neighbours are striving hard to contain Moscow’s trade and the connectivity with the Global South. If we look at the map, then we will come to know that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is encroaching on Russia’s borders constantly. Russia’s Saint Petersburg is merely kilometres away from NATO. The Baltic Sea is crawling with NATO’s and Allied naval and aerial presence. NATO’s surveillance systems are keeping a very close monitoring of Russia’s naval and civilian vessels in the Baltic Sea, and its Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft are jamming Russia’s civil communications. Furthermore, the North Sea is again a hotspot of Allied and NATO forces eager to hinder Russia’s seaborne trade. The Allied and NATO forces are constantly creating problems for Russian vessels and are violating the established international norms and values.
Similarly, NATO and Allied forces are creating problems for the Russian seaborne trade in the Celtic Sea. It is to be remembered here that NATO and Allied forces have formidable presence in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea.
The Allied and NATO presence in the Baltic, North, Celtic, Mediterranean, Red and the Arabian Seas is of great strategic importance. These bodies of water contain very significant international trade routes and in the eyes of International Law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), these waters are the collective and shared heritage of all human beings without any discrimination.
North-South international transport corridor
In such a blatant violation of International Law and the UNCLOS, Russia is fully aware to secure its national interest and to circumvent the challenges posed by the Allied and NATO forces. The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a doable alternate to avoid confrontation and the belligerence of the West. The INSTC starts from Moscow, reaches Volgograd and from there its uses two routes. One route via the Caspian Sea and the second via the ground-based route from Astrakhan to Baku in Azerbaijan. From there, it intends to enter Iran and from there it aims to connect Bandar Abbas and Chabahar Port. Then the route is aimed to connect these two seaports to the Indian seaport of Mumbai.
The INSTC was originally signed among Russia, Iran and India in 2001 to develop the route. The route was aimed to move goods back and forth from Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Europe and South Asia using ship, railroad and ground-based roads. The INSTC project includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Tajikistan, Turkey and Ukraine.
The INSTC and CPEC
The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) cuts down the distance to the global South by half and the shipping days will be reduced to 15 days from the previous 45 days. In such a way, Russian coal could reach India and, in the process, Iran could earn billions of dollars in transit and shipping fees. Further, Russian coal and other hydrocarbons could also be transported to China using the same shipping lines. If Pakistan could reach an agreement with the Iranians, Russian products could reach China using the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC); however, apparently, no such discussion has been held among Pakistan, China and Iran. Perhaps the Western sanctions on Iran could hinder the aforementioned deal. Nonetheless, with or without CPEC, the Iranian railway and shipping industries could benefit momentously from the INSTC.
Conclusions
In other words, the INSTC is a golden option for the global South to enhance regional and even extra-regional connectivity. NATO and Allied forces need to understand that Russia is a great power and has every right to safeguard its national interests. The hindrance and containment of Russia is not going to work. The energy-thirsty Global South needs the Russian natural resources, and the INSTC is the perfect opportunity to feed the Global South.
Russia is creating alternate strategic options for all the nations in the world and with its global partners, such a dream could turn into reality. The INSTC is a grand strategic move that retains the potential of changing the lives of the Global South. Such initiatives should be appreciated and adopted for the greater good of all the nations.
Simon Westwood – is a Masters student at the Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland. He is also a Research Assistant at the DCU’s Department of History, exclusively for “New Eastern Outlook”
