Frozen Horizons, Open Routes: Exploring the Polar Silk Road

1/Jan/2024 | Admin

Human Beings have always been discovering new routes. When our ancestors migrated from Africa to Other places, they used different ways. This migration is not only for discovering new places or warm climates. They used to sell their goods to other countries. Thus, they used many trade roads such as the Silk Road, Spice Road, Incense Road, Amber Road, Tea Road, Trans Sahara Road, and Tin Road. Each road had significant importance in its own time. Sometimes these roads staged battles between states. Today's world Some countries still use these old roads; others still use roads from the time of Geographical Discoveries. 

In 2009, Two German ships that are M/V Beluga Fraternity and M/V Beluga Foresight transited with a Russian icebreaker escort successfully [1].  The ships that had heavy industrial equipment, were loaded in South Korea, to Novy Port in Western Siberia, and finished in Nigeria. Thus, this journey started the Polar Silk Road in the first. The Polar Silk Road is a trade road which has two main maritime routes. These are the Northwest Passage (NWP) and the Northern Sea Route (NSR).  Other routes are the Transpolar Sea Route (TSR) and the Arctic Bridge in The Arctic but the Conception of the Polar Silk Road is built to transit the two main routes. These routes are quite significant because the Polar Silk Road connects Asia to Europe in just 19 days. This is shorter than the old maritime route which a journey finished in 48 days [2]. 

In 1991, 8 Countries, Arctic States, Canada, The Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, The Russian Federation, Sweden, and The United States, signed a non-binding treaty. After 5 years, the Arctic Council was established in Ottawa [3].  The governance of the Arctic has long been carried out by permanent members of the Arctic Council having coastlines with the Arctic Ocean. The entry of China into the Arctic Council with observer status has shifted many dynamics in the region[4]. (Maria Rehman 2022) 

The importance of the Arctic has emerged after climate change and melting ice. This region connected 3 major economic centers that are North America, East Asia, and Western Europe. Thus, Arctic countries and non-Arctic countries compete with each other. This competition causes some international security problems such as increasing nuclear or military bases.  

In this region, all Arctic countries are bound by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This treaty consists of particular articles. According to the treaty "The sovereignty or jurisdiction of the States bordering the straits is exercised subject to this Part and other rules of international law." It means that all coastal states have the right to control their continental shelf. In the treaty, between 37-45 articles mentioned that there is free transit in the Exclusive economic zone and no one can be an obstacle. In the 234 Article, it mentioned that "Coastal States have the right to adopt and enforce non-discriminatory laws and regulations for the prevention, reduction and control of marine pollution from vessels in ice-covered areas within the limits of the exclusive economic zone" Therefore each coastal state creates projects or obstacles according to the articles. 

In the Arctic, there are territorial scrambles within the Arctic countries. Canada argues that the Lomonosov Ridge, the underwater mountain range that cuts the Arctic into half.  Also, Denmark Denmark along with Greenland submitted a claim for an area of a further 895000 square kilometers beyond Greenland past the North Pole to the outer limit of the Russian Exclusive Economic Zone (Maria Rehman 2022). 

On the other, Russia exploits the jurisdiction of North Sea Routes according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in Article 234. Thus Russia applies some rules to ships. These rules contain some Russian standards, informing Russia, using mandatory guidance, and ice breakers.  Russia also builds a mega port on the Taymyr peninsula to drive to lay claim. This project is the biggest in the modern-day global oil industry. Russia notices the Arctic region as a long-term project. Therefore in 2007 planted a flag at the North Pole [5].   

In 2018, Russia announced the Northern Sea Route Development Plan [6]. This year is quite significant because, in the same year, China announced a paper that is China's Arctic Policy  [7]. In this paper China mentioned scientific research, responding to climate change in the Arctic. In the paper, China also mentions Utilizing Arctic Resources in a Lawful and Rational Manner, Participating Actively in Arctic governance and international cooperation, and Promoting peace and stability in the Arctic Conclusion. The main aim is to find new trade roads to reach Europe in a short time. In particular, After the Russia-Ukraine tension, China became more close to Russia. Thus, China bought more oil from Russia than in previous years [8].  

Meanwhile, the United States pursues these emerging developments. The U.S. claims North Sea Routes as an Exclusive economic zone and asserts it is open to transit passes for trade.  Particularly, the Russia-Ukraine tension caused Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States to issue a joint statement. In the statement, international cooperation, including in the Arctic, was mentioned[9]. The U.S. is also annoyed by Russian Military bases in Russian territories in the Arctic.  

In light of these developments, these activities can examined from a neoliberal perspective. According to Michel Foucault, a French philosopher, historian, social theorist, and writer, neoliberalism is an economic and political paradigm. In The Birth of Biopolitics book, Foucault distinguished between German neoliberalism and American neoliberalism[10]. German Neoliberal approach argues that maintaining control over the economic economy but in a more effective and market-friendly way. On the other hand, the American Neoliberal approach points out that minimalizing governmental control on economic activities. Foucault also remarks that the difference between these approaches is that the neoliberal perspective differs geographically. In the Arctic routes, the U.S., Russia, and China have problems with differences of perspective. Russia and China try to control economic activities but the U.S. disagrees with these attempts. 

 

  As seen above in the figure which is made by Carolyn Hardin, the Neoliberal approach has two sides that are corporate freedom and corporate security. China and Russia are on the right side which are property rights, rule of law, and minimizing political risks. On the other hand, the United States, claims that the North Sea Route should have Market Primacy, Business Autonomy, and Deregulation which are in corporate freedom.  

"Newly emerging economic activities are considered both an economic opportunity and a potential threat to security which results in accelerated regional militarization."(Ebru Caymaz 2023) On the other hand, the new trade road occurs because of melting ice therefore Global warming is the main threat to humanity. The main actors compete with each other but unfortunately, they do not care about Global warming too much.   

In conclusion, the Reputation of the Polar Silk Road is increasing significantly, Countries and corporations seek to find new and faster roads but International Balance does not allow it easily because of neoliberal conceptions. Undoubtedly, In the future, If countries can agree with each other, the Polar Silk Road will be used frequently on the other hand Global warming can cause new problems for humanity.  

Muhammed Furkan Uce 

 

Notes: 

1. Nathan Witkop Northeast Passage https://www.dw.com/en/german-freighters-blaze-trail-through-arctic/a-4712254 
2. Trivun Sharma, "Melting Arctic Sea Ice Opens New Maritime Shipping Route," Global Security Review, 23 May 2019, https://globalsecurityreview.com/
3. THE HISTORY OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL https://arctic-council.org/about/timeline/ 
4. Changing Contours of Arctic Politics and the Prospects for Cooperation between Russia and China By Maria Rehman https://www.thearcticinstitute.org/changing-contours-arctic-politics-prospects-cooperation-russia-china/
5. Russia plants flag on North Pole seabed- The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/aug/02/russia.arctic  

6. Why Russia is building an Arctic Silk Road By Tim Gibson - The B1M  

   https://www.theb1m.com/video/russia-arctic-sea-route-megaport-rosneft  

7. China's Arctic Policy The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China January 2018 http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/white_paper/2018/01/26/content_281476026660336.htm 

8. China moves to buy more Russian oil, but will it help or hinder? By Clyde Russell https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-moves-buy-more-russian-oil-will-it-help-or-hinder-russell-2022-06-30/  

9. Joint Statement on Arctic Council Cooperation Following Russia's Invasion of Ukraine  

   https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-arctic-council-cooperation-following-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/  

10. Finding the 'Neo' in Neoliberalism by Carolyn Hardin Finding the 'Neo' in Neoliberalism: Cultural Studies: Vol 28, No 2 (tandfonline.com)