Why India and China are betting on the Northern Sea Route & why it matters

Donald Trump’s trade and tariff policies, sanctions risks, and the ongoing Middle East route disruptions have led economies like India to reassess their supply chain strategies. The US-Iran war and the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have exposed trade route vulnerabilities like never before. And some of the world’s largest economies like China, India and Japan are reassessing their trade route dependencies.With the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea and Suez Canal routes facing disruptions, the Northern Sea Route is in focus for Asia’s trade with Russia and Europe.The Northern Sea Route (NSR), a frozen area route cutting through the Arctic along Russia’s northern coast, is now being used by China, and soon India will join the club.The attraction is clear: The trade route cuts distance and travel time significantly.