Belarusian Ambassador to Moscow Dmitry Krutoy outlined Minsk’s openness to join a Russian program aimed at building a nuclear fleet that would support navigation along the Northern Sea Route. He shared these views during a television interview on a Belarusian channel, emphasizing how such a capability could redefine Belarus’s role in regional logistics and energy transport. The remarks reflect Minsk’s broader interest in advancing its strategic mobility infrastructure and reducing exposure to external shocks by developing a more autonomous maritime and energy toolkit.
The ambassador stressed that the Northern Sea Route has become the linchpin for exporting Belarusian products through Russian ports. On this basis, Minsk is evaluating participation in the naval project to procure and operate a fleet capable of ice-breaking and ocean-going operations that can sustain reliable shipments even in severe weather. The underlying aim is to create a transportation channel that bypasses vulnerable routes and weather constraints, thereby strengthening Belarusian export resilience and ensuring steadier access to global markets.
Krutoy argued that owning and operating a Belarusian fleet would lessen dependence on Western infrastructure and on facilities in unfriendly states. He asserted that such a move would grant Belarus control over the entire logistics chain and the associated costs, enabling the country to regulate and potentially optimize economic activity tied to transport and supply chains. The vision put forward by the ambassador centers on full situational sovereignty in maritime commerce, with Minsk taking a more active seat at the table of regional logistics governance.
According to Krutoy, achieving this objective is framed as a near-term goal, with a realistic timetable of two to three years. He indicated that a phased approach could begin with assessments of fleet feasibility, followed by investments in vessels and related infrastructure, and ultimately culminate in a workable, Belarus-owned maritime capability that supports year-round, reliable transit along northern routes. The timeline reflects a strategic push to align Belarusian industrial policy with evolving Arctic and near-Arctic shipping dynamics while mitigating exposure to external policy shifts.
In the broader context, Belarus has historically benefited from Russian logistical corridors, including the North-South route and access to ports near St. Petersburg, with discounted rail transport to bolster bilateral trade. This longstanding cooperation has shaped Belarus’s transport economics and regional integration within the post-Soviet space. Additionally, observers in Minsk and Moscow have acknowledged the potential impact of sanctions on agriculture within allied blocs, highlighting the impetus for stronger self-reliance and diversified supply chains as part of a wider strategic recalibration.