The Arctic’s Role as an Alternative Trade and Energy System

The article examines the strategic role of the Arctic in ensuring global energy and transport security. The Arctic is of growing importance for the global economy and the energy sector, as it contains substantial oil and gas reserves and provides access to the Northern Sea Route (NSR), a shorter transport corridor between Europe and Asia. The route along Russia’s Arctic coast reduces the distance between European and Asian ports by 30–40% compared with the traditional route through the Suez Canal. Against the backdrop of geopolitical instability, the importance of such an alternative corridor is increasing.

The paper focuses on three key aspects: the competitive advantages of the Northern Sea Route over southern maritime routes; the scale of natural-resource reserves in the Arctic region; and the military and strategic significance of the Arctic in the current geopolitical environment.

The analysis shows that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in 2026, which clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of traditional trade routes, underscored the relevance of Russia’s longterm strategy for developing its Arctic vector. This strategy includes both the expansion of the resource base and production capacity, including through projects such as Vostok Oil, and the development of national infrastructure, including shipbuilding capacities such as the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex. Taken together, these measures strengthen the resilience of export flows and reduce dependence on global trade chokepoints.

The findings are relevant for policy adjustments by states seeking to reduce the risks of trade isolation and disruption, which become particularly acute in periods of geopolitical instability.

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