‘India showing interest’: Putin says cooperation growing on Northern Sea Route

India is showing growing interest in Russia’s Northern Sea Route, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, as Moscow seeks to turn the Arctic shipping corridor into a major trade link with Asia amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.

India is among the key countries exploring cooperation with Russia on the Northern Sea Route (NSR), Putin said, adding that Moscow is witnessing increasing engagement from Asian partners, particularly India and China, as it pushes to expand Arctic shipping and redirect trade flows eastward.

Speaking to Pacific Fleet personnel aboard the missile cruiser Varyag, Putin said Russia remained open to international cooperation on the NSR, but stressed that such engagement must comply with international maritime law.

“Although Russia has consistently voiced, and continues to reaffirm, its readiness to cooperate and leverage the advantages of the Northern Sea Route, strictly within the bounds of existing international maritime law,” Putin said.

“We see growing interest from countries wishing to engage with us on this front. These partners include, above all, our friends China, India, and other nations who are actively discussing these matters with us,” he added.

Putin’s remarks come as Russia accelerates efforts to develop the Arctic shipping corridor into a key commercial route linking Europe and Asia. The push has gained urgency after Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict forced Moscow to reorient much of its energy and trade flows towards Asian markets.

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At the same time, Putin warned of rising “artificial tensions” in the Arctic, which Russia has increasingly framed as a zone of geopolitical competition involving Nato expansion and growing military activity by Western countries.

What is the Northern Sea Route?

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is a shipping path along Russia’s Arctic coast. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through waters north of Siberia. Russia promotes it as a faster route between Europe and Asia compared to the Suez Canal.

However, the route is difficult to use. It has extreme cold, sea ice, and limited infrastructure. Ships often need special ice-strengthened designs and icebreaker support. Even so, melting Arctic ice is slowly making the route usable for longer periods each year.

Russia has invested heavily in the NSR. It has built ports, navigation systems, and a large fleet of nuclear icebreakers. The goal is to increase trade and make the route a regular global shipping lane.

Use of the route is already growing. Russia has increased oil shipments to Asia through the Arctic, with several cargoes moving this year. China is also using the route more, with approved container ships and plans for regular Arctic services.

Why the route matters to India

India is interested in the NSR as part of its growing cooperation with Russia in trade and energy. Both countries see Arctic shipping as an important future link.

India and Russia have agreed to develop shipping routes through the NSR. They also plan to set up a joint mechanism to support cooperation in this area.

India is also involved in other connectivity projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route. The NSR adds another option for trade with Russia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India and Russia will work with “renewed energy” on these routes. He also mentioned training Indian sailors for Arctic navigation.

For India, the NSR can help improve access to Russian energy and goods. As a major buyer of Russian oil, India benefits from faster and more direct shipping routes.

For Russia, India offers an important partner beyond China. With Western sanctions limiting its options, Moscow is looking to strengthen ties with Asian countries like India while developing its Arctic region.

Russia’s growing push into the Arctic

For Russia, the NSR is more than a commercial alternative to traditional shipping lanes such as the Suez Canal.

The route runs through a region rich in oil, gas and mineral resources, making it central to Moscow’s long-term economic and strategic planning. Russia is investing in ports, logistics hubs and navigation systems to turn the corridor into a reliable year-round trade artery.

Recent shipping trends underline this ambition. Moscow has increased crude exports to Asia via the Arctic, while China is preparing more regular container services through the route.

Putin warns of ‘artificial tensions’ in Arctic

Alongside his push for cooperation, Putin warned of what he described as growing “artificial tensions” in the Arctic, linking them to broader geopolitical rivalries and Nato’s expanding presence in the region.

Russia has repeatedly accused Western countries of increasing military and strategic activity in the Arctic, which it views as a contested space as new shipping routes and resource opportunities emerge.

Putin reiterated that Russia is willing to work with international partners on the NSR, but only within the framework of international maritime law.

The Arctic is becoming an increasingly crowded geopolitical arena, with the United States, Nato members, Russia and Asian powers all seeking greater influence as sea ice recedes and commercial viability improves.

For India, the opportunity lies in expanding trade connectivity, but the challenges remain significant. Arctic shipping is still expensive, technically demanding, and dependent on specialised vessels and infrastructure.

Even so, the steady rise in commercial voyages suggests the Northern Sea Route is gradually shifting from a strategic concept to an emerging global trade corridor.

Putin’s latest remarks signal that Russia wants India to play a larger role in that transformation, even as competition over the Arctic continues to intensify.

(With inputs from agencies)