Foreign Warships May Use Northeast Passage Only After Notifying Russia - MoD

The Northern Sea Route is a shipping lane running along the Russian Arctic coast, allowing passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the Northern coast of Siberia.

Starting in 2019, foreign warships will only be able to sail along the Northern Sea Route after notifying Russian authorities, Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Center for Defense Management of Russia, said.

"To eliminate the legal vacuum in terms of the use of the Northern Sea Route, interdepartmental work has been organized to improve Russian legislation, which will result in the notification of the nature of navigation of foreign warships. The work will be completed by the beginning of the navigation (when the waterway becomes passable) in 2019," said Mizintsev.

READ MORE: Japan, Finland Ready to Cooperate in Development of Northern Sea Route

In June 2015, Russia announced development plans for the Northern Sea Route for the period 2015-2030.

Northern Sea Route

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