India joins China and South Korea in push for Arctic shipping routes

AI Summary

China, South Korea, and India are advancing initiatives to utilize Arctic shipping routes made increasingly accessible due to climate change and geopolitical developments. The Polar Silk Road and new container services aim to open shorter trade paths between Asia and Europe through the Arctic.

Climate change and conflict are conspiring to open up the Arctic to Asian commercial shipping, with China, South Korea and India all eyeing the icy short cut to Europe. Last Saturday, Chinese shipping company Sea Legend launched the first scheduled weekly container service across the top of the world, marking the realisation of Beijing’s long-held ambition to build a “Polar Silk Road”. It will not sail alone for long, however. This Sunday, South Korea’s PanStar Group plans to send its own pilot...