[…] But during his visit to Murmansk this week, Vladimir Putin maintained that Russia still has the economic and military super-power needed to embark on new, huge Arctic ventures.
In the course of the visit, the Russian ruler outlined grand plans for new industry, infrastructure, Arctic shipping routes and cooperation with international partners. Including with partners from the West, ”if they express interest.” […]
The new US-Russian relationship could ultimately include easing of sanctions and cooperation in the Arctic, and one of Putin’s key mediators with the Trump team has apparently already invited the Americans to the region. […]
Among the key new initiatives presented by Putin during his visit to Murmansk is a new ’trans-arctic transport corridor.’
Putin ordered his government to prepare for the development of the corridor. A financial, economic and organisational model for the project is to be presented by August 1 this year, he said.
The transport corridor is presented as an extension of the Northern Sea Route. It will include shipments all the way from St.Petersburg and Vladivostok. But it could potentially also facilitate shipments across the North Pole to North America. Läs artikel