Karin Kneissl, Head of the SPbU GORKI Centre: "Rotterdam is the past and Vladivostok is the future of maritime shipping"

The second meeting "From the Red Sea to the Arctic Ocean. Why Rotterdam is the past and Vladivostok is the future of maritime shipping" was attended by Viktor Titov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics of St Petersburg University, Sergey Aplonov, Director of the SPbU Arctic Research Centre, and other SPbU faculty representatives, as well as students and representatives of the business community. Also present were our colleagues from the Pacific National University, led by its Rector Yuriy Marfin, with whom the University is currently discussing the possibility of establishing a representative office of the Geopolitical Observatory of Russia’s Key Issues GORKI SPbU — East. 

During the business breakfast, participants discussed issues related to the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, including the growing importance of the Northern Sea Route and its commercial viability in light of the current situation in the Red Sea. The obstacles and difficulties in developing the Northern Sea Route were also addressed, as well as the problems of transporting oil and gas to Asia via this route and alternative routes. 

Participants paid particular attention to the strategies of Russia’s non-traditional partners in the Arctic, such as China and India. If China wants to play a more significant role in the Arctic than it does now, which could lead to a conflict of interest in the foreseeable future, Russia may find allies in the geopolitical arena in India and some other Arctic Council observer states.

In the course of the discussion, the participants also touched upon the problem of creating conditions to prevent population migration from the Arctic regions, discussing the successful experiences already available in the urbanisation of individual cities.

The issues raised at the business breakfast will be discussed in the GORKI Centre’s new seminar focusing on diplomatic negotiation skills training. The seminar, which draws on Karin Kneissl’s unique personal experience as director of the Centre, diplomat, former foreign minister and teacher of international law, will take place on 23 and 30 March 2024 at the Kelch Mansion (Tchaikovskogo 28). 

Business breakfasts of this kind are held on a regular basis. The next meeting is expected in March 2024. Interested students and staff can inform the GORKI Centre in advance of their wish to participate in the event by submitting an application form via email: gorki@spbu.ru.