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magicarpet

(13,941 posts)
Mon Jul 23, 2018, 12:31 PM Jul 2018

Russia geopolitics - dilemma of being landlocked.

(snip)
Russia’s access to the world’s oceans, aside from the Arctic, is also limited. What access it does have is blocked by other countries, which can be seen through the map below.

European Russia has three potential points from which to access global maritime trade. One is through the Black Sea and the Bosporus, a narrow waterway controlled by Turkey that can easily be closed to Russia. Another is from St. Petersburg, where ships can sail through Danish waters, but this passageway can also be easily blocked. The third is the long Artic Ocean route, starting from Murmansk and then extending through the gaps between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.
(end snip)

More at link,
http://www.mauldineconomics.com/this-week-in-geopolitics/mapping-russias-strategy

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Russia geopolitics - dilemma of being landlocked. (Original Post) magicarpet Jul 2018 OP
Well... Harker Jul 2018 #1
"European Russia" seems to mean western part of the country. dixiegrrrrl Jul 2018 #3
It takes a ship a very long time to sail from a eastern Russia port to the Atlantic Ocean. Nitram Jul 2018 #4
Yes. Harker Jul 2018 #5
Eastern Russia - Pacific access magicarpet Jul 2018 #2
Perhaps Russia's problem is that instead of making treaties with their neighbors that would allow Nitram Jul 2018 #6

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
3. "European Russia" seems to mean western part of the country.
Mon Jul 23, 2018, 02:51 PM
Jul 2018

Given that the article talked about sea lanes controlled by counties west of Russia.

The Pacific is of course open to Russia, but that's a long way from western Russia and European markets.

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
4. It takes a ship a very long time to sail from a eastern Russia port to the Atlantic Ocean.
Mon Jul 23, 2018, 03:20 PM
Jul 2018

Not to mention the distance goods would have to travel by train to get to eastern ports for export. If Russia would just play nice with their neighbors it wouldn't be an issue.

Harker

(13,880 posts)
5. Yes.
Mon Jul 23, 2018, 03:34 PM
Jul 2018

A look at Russia's top trading partners doesn't suggest to me a tremendous need for easy Atlantic access. If there's concern that navigable routes can be shut off, maintaining good relations keeps them open.

magicarpet

(13,941 posts)
2. Eastern Russia - Pacific access
Mon Jul 23, 2018, 02:31 PM
Jul 2018

Western Russia:

Population Centers
Agriculture District
Petrol/gas Reserves
Transportation Infrastructure - roads/rail
Rivers - Shipping/Barge Traffic
Export Markets - Europe/Africa/Canada/USA
Ocean Access - Trade/Naval War Ships

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
6. Perhaps Russia's problem is that instead of making treaties with their neighbors that would allow
Mon Jul 23, 2018, 07:37 PM
Jul 2018

free movement of goods in and out of the country, and give them access to European ports, they prefer to get access by invading and annexing their neighbors. In the Age of Imperialism that was considered a normal course of action. Not anymore.

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