Russia and the Development of Eurasian Communications and Transit: After-Effects of the Pandemic and National Transportation Interests

Abstract

The article analyzes the changes that the Eurasian transit is undergoing in connection with the consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The authors consider the development of transport communications and the expansion of international transport corridors as a strategically important part of the national Russian economy, which has recently been rapidly gaining momentum, largely due to the pandemic. The demand for Eurasian land routes has increased even more due to the force majeure blocking of theSuez Canalin the spring of 2021. The content analysis of databases, regulatory documents, strategies, expert assessments and up-to-date statistics on the Eurasian cargo container transit was carried out. The latest trends related to the introduction of quarantine restrictions and the potential of countries to adapt to new realities are investigated. The connection between internal processes in the EAEU countries and the growth of container transit through the Russian territory is revealed. The authors identified the reasons for the significant loss in 2020.Kazakhstan's transit competitiveness and shows how the internal political crisis inBelaruscloses its routes for transshipment of goods toEurope. The main priorities in the development of the national transport interests of theRussian Federationhave been formed.

Keywords

• eeu
• russia
• belarus
• kazakhstan
• transport corridors
• trans-mainland transit
• container cargo transportation
• economic security