Russia plans rail route to India to cut Strait of Hormuz risk: What we know

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has hinted at the potential development of a railway route from Russia to India, aiming to reduce risks associated with crucial waterways like the Bosphorus and Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to Russian news agency TASS, Khusnullin suggested that alternative routes could traverse countries such as Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, paving the way for any connection to India.

He also noted that Russia's construction sector is currently in need of long-term financing to fuel its growth, with the industry already equipped to handle an additional one trillion rubles per year. If sustained for the next five years, this could enable the industry to expand further. This proposed railway link gains significance in the context of the ongoing US-Iranian conflict, which has heightened concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 25% of global oil trade and around 20% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments pass.

On August 7, Russia and India discussed their cooperation in various sectors, including railway transport, during the 12th Session of the India-Russia Working Group on Modernization and Industrial Cooperation. Both nations welcomed new opportunities for collaboration in railway infrastructure, the Vande Bharat train project, signaling equipment, and other areas.