India, Russia to conduct pilot voyages on Northern Sea Route in 2027
India and Russia are planning the first pilot voyage on the Northern Sea Route for 2027, the 80th year of the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries. A dedicated working group established in 2024 within the Intergovernmental Commission has held three meetings, the latest on 13 August 2026 in Arkhangelsk, and agreed to organise a pilot voyage between Russian and Indian ports via the NSR in 2027. Rosatom, the NSR infrastructure operator since 2018, said there is strong interest among Indian partners, and sources said India-Russia cargo traffic via the route could potentially reach 5 million tonnes annually.
Why it matters: The planned voyage relates to the briefing's energy trade theme, since the text ties the NSR to faster transport of goods and hydrocarbons and to India-Russia trade in crude oil, LNG, fertilizers and critical minerals.