Russia Declares Northern Passage Effectively Closed to Foreign Warships

There will be no US Navy 'Freedom of Navigation' operations in the Russian Arctic

Russia has been actively strengthening its defense capability in the Arctic region lately. The gradual melting of Arctic ice makes the passage of foreign warships near Russia’s northern borders possible. In light of this, a set of rules was introduced for the passage of ships along the Northern Sea Route (NSR).

All foreign countries must comply with the rules, and there can be no exception made. For example, for a destroyer or an aircraft carrier to enter the zone of the Northern Sea Route, the captain of a foreign ship is supposed to warn the Russian Navy 45 days in advance.

Foreign submarines are required to pass the NSR only in the surface position. In addition to the information about the time, the commander of the submarine is obliged to give information about the type of the sub, its displacement, type of power plant and equipment. The commander is also required to report his rank and full name.

A Russian marine pilot will need to stay on board a foreign vessel. If there is a probability that the ship is poorly maintained or may pollute waterways of the Northern Sea Route, Russia has a reason to deny the passage of the foreign vessel.

In the water area of the Northern Sea Route, NATO ships and submarines pose the greatest threat. Therefore, if someone decides to break the rules, foreign vessels will be arrested.

At least ten military bases have been deployed to defend the northern part of the country. Some of them are designed for air defense systems, while others are designed for surface vessels and submarines.

It goes without saying that the new rulebook applies only to warships. Civilian ships can still pass the Northern Sea Route as before. Russia can only profit from assisting foreign merchant ships in passing hazardous areas. 

A sea journey from Western Europe to Japan or China is 40% shorter through the Arctic than through the Suez Canal. The countries of East Asia are interested in delivering goods via the Arctic. There are frequent cases of pirate attacks while passing through the Suez Canal.

Therefore, the prospects for the development of the Arctic region are enormous. Yet, in order to keep influence and control on this geostrategic area, Russia needs energy and brains in the first place.

Source: Pravda.ru

15 Comments
  1. […] There will be no US Navy ‘Freedom of Navigation’ operations in the Russian Arctic […]

  2. […] to bolster the country’s domestic shipping industry. Additional limitations have been placed on the passage of foreign warships. In the coming decades, new shipping routes, north of the Russian Arctic islands, may become […]

  3. cap960 says

    I can see the usual Yanks going to the UN crying to the world Russia isn’t following international laws, and something must be done. The repertoire of lies will soon be brought upon us.

  4. John C Carleton says

    Got to watch them captains of US Navy ships.

    Ship leaves the Norfolk NAVAL BASE, heading for the only true USA territory not being occupied militarily , Washington DC, they end up in the South China Sea, trying to start a fight with the Chinese Navy, cause the Chinese, put their country too close to a US Navy Ship!

    Or lost again, in the Black Sea, wandering around in circles, obviously lost, screaming in fear like little girls, when the Russian Navy sends an aircraft or a couple of ships, help them find their way back to the open ocean, and a point out, which way Washington DC is.

    Hell, the Viet Nam war was fought by the US, cause one of their ships got lost, ended up in North Viet Nam waters.
    The Captain started hallucinating, thought non existent North Vietnamese gun boats was attacking his huge, very well armed ship.

    The Spanish American war was fought cause a US Navy ship, the USS Maine, got lost when sailing around the area off the coast, close to Washington DC, ended up in a Cuban Harbor, where they anchored, as they did not know how to get home to DC.

    The very bad design of the coal bunkers, led to an explosion which blew the ship up.

    The USA, not wanting to admit to their navy’s bumbling, claimed the Spanish snuck up to DC, captured their ship, took it to Cuba where the Spanish blew up the ship and crew!

    A US ship shows up in your area of influence, get them out.
    Fast!
    Nothing but trouble!

  5. gabart says

    Good measure. Every day the North Pole is increasing its geostrategic relevance. Look what has happened to Canada, a vile trump regime colony.

  6. CHUCKMAN says

    Appropriate measures.

  7. Mikhail Garchenko says

    “Суверенитет, просто так.”
    Well done, “Ugly Bear”..! 😉

  8. thomas malthaus says

    The US Navy will probably not give notice or warning when infiltrating the area, much less ride the surface. This could get interesting from the Russian Navy standpoint as to when a provocation is initiated. Would they attempt a protocol similar to Kerch Strait apprehensions of Ukrainian merchant vessels?

    I wouldn’t be hurried to use Russian icebreakers to facilitate foreign warships, or foreign warships disguised as merchant ships.

  9. Andrew Earl says

    if Russia guarantees the safe passage of merchant shipping,[and they will] American warships should be compelled to stay away.

  10. chris chuba says

    Old thread but I am still curious. Does this apply to the UNCLOS limits of 200 EEZ nautical miles or the 13 miles of territorial waters?

    Russia prides itself on the lawfulness of her actions, is there a precedent for these measures. I know the Egyptians have blocked Iranian ships from the Suez Canal so I suspect that there is.

  11. Promitheas Apollonious says

    I am sure trumpet will send the american fleet and make sure that the russians obey his rules or he teach them a lesson, just like it teach the Iranians – Chinese and NKoreans. By now he is becoming very good into pissing against the wind and taking a shower.

  12. LS says

    Good. Lay down the law and back it up with force–right from the beginning. The AngloZionists only understand force. Godspeed to Russia and China in these matters.

    1. pooi-hoong chan says

      Agree

  13. BillA says

    US subs been passing for years (a training run ?)
    I would presume the RF has hydrophones at the obvious places of interest
    not going to be a fun confrontation with those evil Ruskies

    1. thomas malthaus says

      If they haven’t installed hydrophones, they may soon do so. The ten Russian military bases along the Arctic Rim might imply so.

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