Russia Proposes Railway Link to Indian Ocean to Bypass Chokepoints

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin proposed the exploration of a direct overland railway route to the Indian Ocean to reduce Russia's reliance on strategic maritime chokepoints. The proposal suggests establishing a freight link passing through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to secure direct access to the Indian market.

This strategic shift follows significant maritime disruptions. Tehran announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz against vessels affiliated with the U.S. and Israel, following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian urban centers on February 28. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missile and drone operations against targets in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Türkiye briefly restricted access to the Bosphorus strait after attacks on vessels in the area.

Russia is pursuing this alternative corridor to safeguard economic stability amid escalating Western pressure. This includes U.S. Senate legislation targeting countries that purchase Russian oil and gas, as well as Ukrainian attacks that have disabled much of Russia's refining capacity. By diversifying transport routes, Moscow aims to make trade with Asian markets more resilient against sanctions and the vulnerabilities of maritime shipping.