Russia should create a direct railway route to the Indian Ocean, argues Marat Husnullin, the Russian deputy prime minister overseeing the development of construction and transport infrastructure, reports The Moscow Times.
He stated that this is necessary due to the risk of disruption of trade routes through the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf. “Also, a railway connection to the Indian Ocean should be considered. Given the risks in the Bosporus and Hormuz [due to the US-Iran war], alternative routes might be necessary: through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Any access to India is acceptable,” the deputy prime minister said in an interview given to TASS.
The Moscow Times notes that his comments came against the backdrop of the intensification of Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships and port infrastructure in the Black Sea.
The attacks have caused a sharp increase in freight transport prices in the Black Sea basin, and maritime carriers have begun to refuse to transport goods due to military risks.