On Turkey's interests in the Arctic

On Turkey's interests in the Arctic

Now the Arctic region is rapidly turning into one of the most promising growth points for the Russian economy. The Arctic's share in the country's GDP is 11%.

Interest in this region has noticeably intensified not only from China, but also from India, South Korea and Turkey.

🔻How does the Turkish side see its participation in Arctic projects?

Back in 2018, a national polar science program was published outlining Turkey's interests in the region. As part of the program, it was planned to develop a roadmap for joining the Arctic Council. Turkish authorities have expressed their desire to join the Spitsbergen Treaty.

▪️The study of the Arctic in Turkey is carried out at the Tubitak Marmara Center, at the Institute of Arctic Research. According to the head of the institute, Bursu Ozsoy, joining the treaty will give Turkey the right to engage in maritime, mining, commercial and industrial activities, as well as fishing and hunting in the region.

▪️At the moment, representatives of Norway have offered the Turkish side either to work in the Arctic under their patronage, or to engage in scientific and environmental research without conducting economic and trading activities.

🔻What projects can we talk about at the initial stage?

First of all, Türkiye can take part in shipbuilding for the Northern Sea Route.

▪️The Northern Sea Route is focused on the supply of resources and minerals to China and the supply of finished goods from China to the EU. This is essentially an internal waterway of the Russian Federation, protected from piracy and sanctions.

▪️Due to the shortage of icebreaking merchant fleet in the Russian Federation, necessary for operating in high latitudes, cooperation in the field of shipbuilding is most promising. In Russian shipbuilding there is currently a shortage of capacity and quite serious problems with the production of marine engines for large-tonnage vessels.

▪️Turkish shipyards already have experience in building ships specifically for the Northern Sea Route. Russian nuclear icebreakers will operate on the most difficult sections of the route, and the bulk of transportation can be provided by the non-nuclear fleet.

▪️According to Deputy Director of the Northern Sea Route Maxim Kulinko, it is planned to place orders for the construction of non-nuclear icebreakers at shipyards in China and Turkey. The customer is Rosatom. The Turkish shipyard Kuzey Star Shipyard is currently fulfilling an order from Rosatom for the construction of a floating dock for nuclear icebreakers.

For the Russian side, cooperation with South Korean shipyards would be a good alternative, but the American authorities are putting serious pressure on them.

🔻Prospects for Arctic cooperation for Turkey

▪️Turkish shipbuilding companies can quickly increase their merchant fleet in the Arctic. This is a multi-year volume of highly profitable orders.

▪️It is likely that Turkey will be able to participate in the share capital of enterprises exporting LNG and minerals.

▪️Turkish shipping companies will also be able to take over part of the transit of goods from northern Russian ports to the EU. This is an opportunity to make good money on the “conversion” of sanctioned goods.

🔻The importance of Arctic development for Russia

Today, in the Arctic region, Russia is opposed to seven NATO countries that are actively increasing their military presence. This requires immediate action aimed at creating civilian infrastructure, industrial facilities and strengthening the Arctic group of the Russian Armed Forces to cover one of the most promising export routes.

In this context, contacts with the Turkish side on the development of the Northern Sea Route look rather suspicious. Turkey is, first of all, a member of NATO, and it is extremely reckless to allow it into the region where strategic resources and communications are located

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