Indian and Russian Officials Discuss North-South Corridor

On December 20, the foreign ministers of India, Russia, and China will meet in New Delhi to discuss issues related to the Middle East and the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. The North-South Transport Corridor, which connects India, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Europe, is expected to be a topic of discussion between officials from Delhi and Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on December 10 that the 15th meeting of the RIC group, consisting of Russia, India, and China, will take place in New Delhi, focusing on current issues and challenges in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the Korean Peninsula. In addition to the meeting of the three countries' foreign ministers, Sergey Lavrov will separately meet with his Indian and Chinese counterparts. During the meeting between Sushma Swaraj, India's Foreign Minister, and Mr. Lavrov, the two sides are expected to discuss the progress of the 7,200-kilometer project known as the 'International North-South Transport Corridor.' This transport route connects India, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe by land and sea. After a relatively long journey through Iran, it reaches Azerbaijan, Russia, and ultimately the northeastern regions and other parts of Europe. Last week, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, announced the opening of a new port in Sistan and Baluchestan province at the end of his visit; the expansion of Chabahar port has currently increased its cargo capacity from 2.5 million tons per year to 8.5 million tons. Current analyses indicate that Chabahar port is strategically important for India as it serves as an alternative route for India's access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. On the other hand, some analysts believe that this port could pose a challenge to Gwadar port in southern Balochistan, Pakistan, which is located 80 kilometers from Chabahar and is being developed by China. Kamran Dadkhah, an economist in the U.S., told Radio Farda that the development of Chabahar port 'has significant importance and profit,' and Fereydoun Khavand, another economic analyst, describes this key Iranian port as a competitor to Pakistan's Gwadar port. Furthermore, these analysts argue that the ultimate success in developing and utilizing Chabahar depends on issues such as regional de-escalation and real investment. The construction of the new Chabahar port has been carried out by the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the then-commander of this entity and four affiliated companies in January 2010. Reports indicate that Indian, Russian, and Chinese officials will also discuss issues such as combating terrorism and drug trafficking and efforts to facilitate the flow of information regarding international security during their upcoming meeting.