Potential for Cooperation among EAEU Countries in Implementing the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor Projects

Russia faces the strategic task of easing numerous restrictions on its interactions with foreign partners caused by sanctions imposed by the US, EU, and several other countries. To address this challenge, a legal framework is being developed to reorient transport and logistics projects toward the South and East. The Arctic zone as a whole and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor (TTC) are becoming a key element in building Russia's new transport architecture. It is designed to provide Russia with access to the open ocean and strengthen the development of Russia's entire Arctic belt, linking not only the territories of the west and east, but also the north and south of Russia itself. Discussions on the development of the TTC are being organized by Russian enterprises and officials with partners within various international organizations, including representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). However, most of Russia's partners in the EAEU currently show no interest in TTC development projects.

The purpose of this study is to determine the forms and nature of Russia's interaction with EAEU countries in implementing projects around the TTC in order to identify prospects for cooperation. This answer is important for understanding the extent to which the Arctic agenda can play a driving role in the EAEU's various strategies, especially since China and several other Asian countries cooperating with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) have consistently shown interest in the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which is part of the TTC. The study's original nature stems from its unique approach, which aligns legal aspects with specific examples of cooperation and Arctic-related materials from leading EAEU media outlets. The novelty lies in updating the data on the presented scientific problem, and its practical value lies in a clear understanding of the interests and principles of cooperation among Russia's partners in the EAEU on Arctic issues at present. This study complements the existing data on the development of Russia's Arctic strategy and on potential partners in this area. The study consists of several interconnected sections, allowing for a comprehensive answer to the question posed: the emergence and evolution of the TTC concept within the overall Arctic agenda; the Eurasian Economic Commission's approaches to the TTC; cooperation between EAEU countries and Russian Arctic entities in specific areas; and media coverage from Russia's partner countries within the EAEU. This study complements the existing data on the development of Russia's Arctic strategy and potential partners in this area.

1. Avdashkin A. A. “Going to Novosibirsk to trade, to Tyumen to work..”: transnational scenarios of Kyrgyz migrants // Siberian Historical Research [Sibirskiye istoricheskiye issledovaniya]. 2025. No. 4. P. 106–124. (In Russ.). DOI 10.17223/2312461X/50/6 EDN RRLWKP

2. Aristova L. B., Semenova N. K. Russia and China in Eurasia: Transport Dimensions of Security / Editor-in-Chief: Doctor of Economics A. I. Salitsky. Final analytical report/monograph for RFBR project No. 19-014-00027 A. Moscow: Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2021. 289 p. (In Russ.).

3. Vasyunina A. A., Yarovova T. V. Arctic cooperation between Russia and China in the context of the development of the Eurasian Economic Union // Russia and China: History and Prospects of Cooperation. Proceedings of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference. Blagoveshchensk-Heihe. 2025. P. 354–359. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://www.elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_82827143_34907052.pdf (accessed: 02.05.2026). (In Russ.). EDN SLEFKK

4. Gladun E. F. International socio-humanitarian Arctic projects: challenges and opportunities // Arctic 2035 [Arktika 2035]. 2023. No. 2 (14). P. 30-37. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://arctic2035.ru/n14-p30 (accessed: 02.05.2026). (In Russ.). EDN AFKQFV

5. Eremina N. V. Arctic policy of the European Union: tasks and problems // Oikumena. Regional stud-ies [Oykumena. Regional’nye issledovaniya]. 2019. No. 4. P. 30–39. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24866/1998-6785/2019-4/30-39. EDN VBCHPI

6. Zhuravel V. P., Grinyaev S. N. Transarctic Transport Corridor: Political, Economic, and Strategic Potential for Russia // Arctic and North [Arktika I Sever]. 2025. No. 60. P. 135–151. (In Russ.). DOI 10.37482/issn2221-2698.2025.60.135. EDN COYHXC

7. Zhuravel V. P., Nazarov V. P. The Northern Sea Route: Present and Future // Bulletin of Moscow State Regional University [Byulleten’ Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo regional’nogo universiteta]. 2020. No. 2. P. 140–158. (In Russ.). DOI 10.18384/2224-0209-2020-2-1010. EDN WVNEGS

8. Zhuravel V. P. Arctic Vector of the Countries of Greater Eurasia // Scientific and Analytical Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences [Nauchno-analiticheskiy vestnik IE RAN]. 2019. No. 6. P. 100–104. (In Russ.). DOI 10.15211/vestnikieran6201999104. EDN SVZMYK

9. Zakharov A. N., Rakhimzoda M. A. The role of the Northern Sea Route in the development of international trade // Bulletin of the Institute of World Civilizations [Vestnik Instituta mirovykh tsivilizatsiy]. 2021. Vol. 12, No. 3 (32). P. 66–70. (In Russ.). EDN SVELMJ

10. Zvorykina Yu. V., Kofner Yu. Yu., Pakulov S. I. The Northern Sea Route as a Strategic Initiative of the EAEU // Russian Foreign Economic Bulletin [Rossiyskiy vneshneekonomicheskiy vestnik]. 2017. No. 9. P. 94–104. (In Russ.). EDN ZHAFPR

11. Kefeli I. F., Nikolaenko A. V. Russia’s Arctic Strategy in the Greater Eurasian Partnership // Eurasian Integration: Economics, Law, Politics [Evraziyskaya integratsiya: ekonomika, pravo, politika]. 2021. No. 15 (4). P. 109-121. URL: https://www.eijournal.ru/jour/article/view/974 (accessed: 02.05.2026) (In Russ.).

12. Kirillova T. V. “Prospects for the Development of the Special Economic Zone in the Arctic” // Petersburg Economic Journal [Peterburgskiy ekonomicheskiy zhurnal]. 2021. No. 4. P. 93–102. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24412/2307-5368-2021-4-93-102. EDN UDUJGU

13. Kobzeva M. A. Cooperation between Russia and China in the field of Arctic shipping: status and prospects // Arctic and North [Arktika I Sever]. 2021. No. 43. P. 89–108. (In Russ.). DOI 10.37482/issn2221-2698.2021.43.89. EDN XTLSZR

14. Konyshev V. N., Sergunin A. A. Military Security in the Arctic: New Threats to Russia // Moscow University Bulletin. Series 25: International Relations and World Politics [Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 25: Mezhdunarodnyye otnosheniya i mirovaya politika]. 2024. Vol. 16, No. 3. P. 127–152. (In Russ.). DOI 10.48015/2076-7404-2024-16-3-127-152. EDN WCLNOF

15. Koshkarev M. V., Ivanova M. V. Comparative Analysis of the Economic Efficiency of Coal Mining and Transportation along the Northern Sea Route to International Consumers from the Taimyr Peninsula Deposits // Regional Economics: Theory and Practice [Regional’naya ekonomika: teoriya i praktika]. 2023. Vol. 21, No. 9. P. 1606–1626. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24891/re.21.9.1606. EDN RGCNYG

16. Lebedev A. D. “The Arctic as a Region of Cooperation for the EAEU Countries,” in: Actual Problems of the Modern Economy: The New Normal. XVII All-Russian Scientific Conference of Young Researchers with International Participation. Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Institute of Economics and Management. St. Petersburg: Nitz Art, 2023. (In Russ.). EDN XKUGOP

17. Lomanov A. V. “The Ice Silk Road: A Mutual Connectivity Program”, in: Valdai. February 6, 2018. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://ru.valdaiclub.com/a/high-lights/ledyanoy-shyelkovyy-put/(accessed: 02.05.2026) (In Russ.).

18. Maria Lagutina on Norway’s new Arctic strategy and Russia’s place in it [Electronic resource] // PORA. URL: https://goarctic.ru/opinions/mariya-lagutina-o-novoy-arkticheskoy-strategii-norvegii-i-meste-rossii-v-ney/ 11.09.2026 (accessed: 02.05.2026) (In Russ.).

19. Medvedeva L. M. The development trajectory of the Northern Sea Route in the changing conditions of recent decades // Modern scientific thought [Sovremennaya nauchnaya mysl’]. 2022. No. 4. P. 180–187. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24412/2308-264X-2022-4-180-187. EDN MNFJXU

20. Meshcherikov V. A. Cooperation of the EAEU Member States in the Arctic // Yenisei Political and Legal Readings. Collection of conference materials [Yeniseyskiye politiko-pravovyye chteniya. Sbornik materialov konferentsiy]. Krasnoyarsk, 2022. P. 195–200. (In Russ.). EDN AYNJZX

21. Mitko A. V. Trends in the struggle for the Arctic shelf of the Arctic states // Neftegaz.RU. 2024. No. 7. P. 38–45. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://magazine.neftegaz.ru/articles/arktika/842655-riski-osvoeniya-prirodnykh-resursov-rossiyskoy-arktiki/(accessed: 02.05.2026) (In Russ.). EDN PWDKLJ

22. Nikiforova V. D., Nikiforov A. A. Assessment of the Potential for Cooperation between Russia and the EAEU Countries in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation Competition between Economic Systems of the Eurasian and Western European Types // Collection of Scientific Articles Following the Results of the VIII International Scientific Conference “State and Market: Eurasian Dominance of Development in the Context of the Formation of a Multipolar World”. St. Petersburg, October 19–20, 2023 / edited by Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Prof. T. A. Selishcheva, Ph.D. (Econ.), Assoc. Prof. N. V. Sopina. St. Petersburg: Publishing House of St. Petersburg State University of Economics, 2023. P. 389–394. (In Russ.).

23. Pitukhina M. A. Features of Migration Processes in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation // POLYTEX [Politeks]. 2015. Vol. 11, No. 2. P. 41–49. (In Russ.). EDN VZLJFX

24. Skufyina T. P., Korchak E. A., Baranov S. V. Chimeras of the Past and Navigation through the Latest Conditions of Development, Risks, and Opportunities for Governing the Russian Arctic // Arctic and North [Arktika I Sever]. 2021. No. 43. P. 45–76. (In Russ.). DOI 10.37482/issn2221-2698.2021.43.45. EDN NRFKLY

25. Trenin D. Russia and China in the Arctic: Cooperation, Rivalry, and Implications for Eurasian Security. 2020. April 1. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://russiancouncil.ru/analytics-and-comments/comments/rossiya-i-kitay-v-arktike-sotrudnichestvo-sopernichestvo-i-posledstviya-dlya-evraziyskoy-bezopasnost/ (accessed: 02.05.2026) (In Russ.).

26. Fedotovskikh A. V. Cooperation Opportunities for the Eurasian Union Member States in the Arctic Zone of Russia // Russia: Development Trends and Prospects [Rossiya: tendentsii i perspektivy razvitiya]. 2016. No. 17-3. P. 213–215. (In Russ.). EDN ZNXXQJ

27. Filatkina E. M. Prospects for trade and economic cooperation of the EAEU in the Arctic region in the context of the formation of a single digital space // World Civilizations [Mirovyye tsivilizatsii]. 2021. Vol. 6, No. 1. P. 168–175. (In Russ.). EDN UCKFQB

28. Khadyko A. I. Development of Russia’s Arctic Territories: Economic Trends and Social Expectations // Economy and Management: Problems, Solutions [Ekonomika i upravleniye: problemy, resheniya]. 2024. Vol. 11, No. 11 (152). P. 141–152. (In Russ.). DOI 10.36871/ek.up.p.r.2024.11.11.017. EDN CZVFTN

29. Khasanova M. S. Belarus’s projects in the development of the Northern Sea Route // World Politics [Mirovaya politika]. 2026. No. 1. P. 51–56. (In Russ.). DOI 10.25136/2409-8671.2026.1.77518. EDN EMLNDT

30. Aslesen H., Fagereng A., Saeed N. The risks and opportunities of sailing the Northern sea route — a Norwegian stakeholder perspective [Electronic resource] // WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs. 2026. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-026-00402-2. URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13437-026-00402-2 (accessed: 02.05.2026) DOI 10.1007/s13437-026-00402-2

31. Boylan B.M., Elsberry D.T. Increased Maritime Traffic in the Arctic: Implications for International Cooperation and Security [Electronic resource] // Centre for Arctic Policy. 2019. URL: https://www.uaf.edu/caps/our-work/arctic-ocean-transit-project-files/increased-maritime-traffic-in-the-arctic-paper-final-9Dec2019.pdf (accessed: 02.05.2026)

32. Eremina N. UK-Russia relations in the Arctic: from damage limitation to a cooperative agen-da? // The Polar Journal. 2021. Vol. 11. Iss. 1. P. 57–74. DOI 10.1080/2154896X.2021.1932275. EDN QLWRQL

33. Goldstein M. A., Lynch A. H., Li X., Norchi Ch. H. Sanctions or sea ice: Costs of closing the Northern Sea Route [Electronic resource] // Finance Research Letters. 2022. Vol. 50. 103257. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1544612322004536 (accessed: 02.05.2026) DOI 10.1016/j.frl.2022.103257 EDN RZGJEY

34. Gricius G. Desecuritizing the arctic: Maritime governance in the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage // Marine Policy. 2026. Vol. 185. 106990. DOI 10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106990 EDN NIXOUY

35. Hui Zhao, Hao Hu, Yisong Lin. Study on China-EU container shipping network in the context of Northern Sea Route // Journal of Transport Geography. 2016. Vol. 53. P. 50–60. DOI 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2016.01.013. EDN WSWTMV

36. Lagutina M. L., Eremina N. V., Gadal S. European Arctic Policy // The Handbook of the Arctic / Pak, E.V., Krivtsov, A.I., Zagrebelnaya, N.S. (eds). Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore, 2022. P. 75–100. DOI 10.1007/978-981-16-9250-5_5-1

37. Sander G., Mikkelsen E. Arctic shipping 2013–2022: the traffic has grown, with big variation between regions, seasons and ship types Polar research. 2025. Vol. 44. P. 1–18. DOI 10.33265/polar.v44.10978. EDN NVDKZF

38. Sergunin A., Gjørv G. H. The politics of Russian Arctic shipping: evolving security and geopolitical factors // Polar Journal. 2020. Vol. 10 (2). P. 251–272. DOI 10.1080/2154896X.2020.1799613. EDN THIHYW

39. Solakivi T., Hellström R., Uotila P. et al. A climate model-based long-term capacity forecast of the Northern Sea Route [Electronic resource] // WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs. 2026. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-025-00400-w. URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13437-025-00400-w (accessed: 02.05.2026). DOI 10.1007/s13437-025-00400-w

40. Vylegzhanin A, Bunik I, Torkunova E, Kienko E. Navigation in the Northern sea route: interaction of Russian and international applicable law // Polar Journal. 2020. Vol. 10 (2). P. 285–302. DOI 10.1080/2154896X.2020.1844404 EDN EKQIZD