Photo: Global Look Press
Currently the Russian Federation is capable of independently protecting the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and its infrastructure, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador Nikolai Korchunov told RIA Novosti.
He was asked to comment on some expert opinions that believe that at one point it will be necessary to consider the issue of allowing warships of the Chinese Navy into the Northern Sea Route.
“We proceed from the fact that Russia is able to independently reliably ensure the security of the Northern Sea Route and its infrastructure in the long term,” said a Russian diplomat.< /p>
NSR is 5,556 kilometers long and connects the Barents Sea and the Bering Strait. Currently, it is the shortest route between Europe and Asia, between the Far East and the European part of Russia. At the same time, its passage is complicated by difficult ice conditions.
The NSR development plan foresees an increase in freight traffic to 80 million tons, tons in 2024, 110 million tons by 2030, 22 million tons by 2035 should be 220 million tons.