Why the Northern Sea Route Will Become Important
Author: Ali Askari, analyst (Germany)
The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, stated on January 23, 2026, during a meeting with students of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, that Moscow will continue the development of the Arctic regardless of how the climate situation evolves.
According to the president, there is no consensus among experts regarding the future of climate change. Some predict global warming, while others believe its peak has already passed and that a period of cooling will begin soon.
“But this is not important. What matters is that we will develop this region anyway. Seventy percent of the territory of the Russian Federation lies in northern latitudes. This is extremely important,” Vladimir Putin emphasized.
“Experts have different views on how the climate situation on the planet and in the Arctic will change. Whether we are facing global warming, or, as some believe, the peak has already passed and a cooling period will begin,” the president noted.
The head of state also highlighted the significance of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). He stressed that this route is important not only for Russia but also for international trade and logistics.
Russia is interested in the development and exclusively peaceful use of the NSR. According to the federal project “The Great Northern Sea Route” (2024), more than 150 billion rubles are planned to be invested in the route by 2027.
What are Putin’s plans and what is this about?
According to experts’ forecasts, these investments will contribute to increasing the economic importance of the route. At the same time, a specific plan has been outlined to increase cargo traffic volumes: up to 100 million tons by 2030 and 150 million tons by 2035.
At present, the responsibility for ensuring civilian navigation along the Northern Sea Route lies with Rosatom, which processes applications, publishes forecasts of ice movement, and prepares navigation charts (in Russian and English).
This ensures constant communication with international shipping companies and demonstrates the Russian Federation’s openness to the joint use of the route.
Thus, in 2025, representatives of Rosatom reported an increase in the number of transit voyages by foreign companies through the NSR and forecast a significant rise in cargo volumes in the future.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the government of Vladimir Putin, taking into account current global realities—especially the worsening security situation along southern maritime routes (in the Indian Ocean and the broader Indo-Pacific region, where a crisis around Taiwan is also possible)—views the Northern Sea Route as a more preferable and suitable alternative for trade and navigation. That is why no expense is being spared for its development.
