By Benyamin POGHOSYAN, PhD, Chairman, Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies

The war in Ukraine has disrupted global supply chains, creating significant complications for transit routes crossing the Russia-Europe border. The world economy, still reeling from COVID-19, found itself in another crisis. Yet, even before the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the primary sea transit routes connecting Southeast Asia with Europe, like the Suez Canal, were congested due to the growing cargo volumes. As one of the rising stars of the global economy, India was looking forward to establishing alternative routes to reach Europe. In 2000, India, Iran and Russia signed an agreement to launch the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to connect India with Europe via Iran and Russia. Three main routes were identified to connect India with Russia: via Iran and Azerbaijan, via Iran and the Caspian Sea and via Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan. According to the initial plan, the cargo should enter northern Europe from Russia, creating an India-Europe route that circumvents the Suez Canal. READ MORE

• March 10, 2023

The comments from a senior presidential aide are the latest signal of a shift by Kyiv to continue the defence of the city in eastern Ukraine.

• March 10, 2023

Meanwhile, the Kremlin accuses Washington of stoking anti-Russian sentiment among the thousands who protested against the bill.

• March 10, 2023

Russia bombarded Ukraine with Kinzhal missiles, which fly many times faster than the speed of sound, and are impossible to shoot down with ground defences.

• March 10, 2023

Beijing has continued to stand by Russia even after the invasion of Ukraine, but it’s paying the price for this support.

• March 10, 2023

Russia says the top diplomats spoke ‘on the move’ at a G20 meeting in India but did not hold Ukraine negotiations.

• March 3, 2023

Ukrainian authorities say mandatory evacuation begins for families with children and residents having limited mobility.

• March 3, 2023

Xi Jinping and Alexander Lukashenko call for the ‘soonest possible’ peace deal for Ukraine.

• March 3, 2023