Ukraine (bbabo.net), - Russia is rapidly building two new transport corridors linking Asia and Europe, seeking to ease Western sanctions, while unrest in the Middle East undermines global trade. In addition, these corridors could strengthen Russia’s turn towards Asian powers - China and India, writes Bloomberg columnist Henry Mayer.

These corridors have the potential to make Russia “the heart of much international trade,” even as the United States and its allies try to isolate it over the Ukrainian conflict. These routes can reduce transit times by 30% to 50% compared to routes through the Suez Canal and help avoid security problems in the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have attacked international shipping due to Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

While the United States and its Western allies, despite all the benefits, avoid Russian-backed routes, the largest economies in Asia and the Persian Gulf are showing interest in them. However, the Russian initiative still faces significant obstacles, Mayer notes.

The outdated Iranian infrastructure is holding back the development of the North-South international transport corridor connecting India with the European part of Russia. As for the Northern Sea Route, even with accelerating climate change and the active melting of Arctic ice making the corridor an increasingly viable option, there are still huge logistical challenges along Russia's remote coastline.

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