Amid the Ukraine conflict, the friendship between India and Russia is poised to strengthen further with the opening of a new trade route. A successful trial of ships between Chennai port in India and Vladivostok port in Russia took place in October, demonstrating that this maritime route could usher in a new era of commerce. During this trial, it took only 17 days to travel from Chennai to Vladivostok, highlighting the potential for transformative trade along this maritime corridor.
As per Oleg N. Avdeev, the Russian Consul General, the trial involved a ship’s journey from Chennai to Vladivostok. Both nations are keen on reopening this route that was prevalent during the Soviet era. Avdeev mentioned that this ship took only 17 days for the journey to Russia. Previously, it took India 35 to 40 days to establish its route to Russia. The trade between Indian ports and Saint Petersburg in Russia involves navigating through the Suez Canal, taking 35 to 40 days.
Before this, India’s Minister of Shipping, Sarbananda Sonowal, had stated that India and Russia would soon commence the arrival of ships through the Eastern Maritime Corridor. Officials had anticipated that commerce between Chennai and Vladivostok would take only 16 days. However, the trial showed that it took 17 days. This new route is expected to facilitate trade in coal, crude oil, LNG, and fertilizer.
The distance between Chennai and Vladivostok is 5600 nautical miles, and a standard container ship can cover it in just 10 to 12 days. Russian officials suggest that they want India to increase its investment in their Far East region. This region is experiencing rapid growth in Chinese activities, with Chinese nationals settling in the Vladivostok vicinity. Several Chinese analysts consider this entire area as part of China, a region that it handed over to the Soviet Union after a treaty.
Struggling Against the Threat of Chin
While combating the expansionist threat from China, Russia wishes for its friend, India, to establish satellite cities around Vladivostok and develop the backward areas. Despite the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, business between Moscow and New Delhi is continuously growing. India’s increased influence in this region, where it would be beneficial, may pose a challenge to China, which claims friendship with Russia without any borders.
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