Russia proposes direct rail link to India to bypass Bosphorus & Hormuz straits
Russia has proposed a new transcontinental rail link connecting Moscow to the Indian Ocean to bypass maritime chokepoints like the Bosphorus and Strait of Hormuz. The project would require cooperation across multiple nations, including Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Why it matters
This infrastructure proposal reflects a strategic effort to secure supply chains against geopolitical instability and maritime blockades.
NEW DELHI: Russian deputy PM Marat Khusnullin has suggested exploring a direct rail link from Moscow to the ‘Indian Ocean’ to avert risks associated with the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing conflicts, including in West Asia, that have stalled the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. Bosphorus is a narrow, natural strait in Turkey that connects Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.“A rail link to the Indian Ocean should also be explored. Risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz might require alternative routes: through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Any options providing access to India are acceptable,” he told Russian news agency TASS.Experts said constructing a rail link spanning two continents and four countries would be a gigantic challenge.
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