The study, titled “The Northern Sea Route and the Transcontinental Corridor: A Strategic Vision to Connect China, Russia, and Africa via the Port of Dakhla Atlantique,” was presented by Younes Bennane, a researcher in international logistics and director of the Institute of Social and Media Studies in Morocco, and Sanaa Haouata, a professor at Hassan II University in Casablanca.

Speaking to TelQuel, the two researchers describe this “bridge” between China, Russia, and Africa as a bold response to the vulnerabilities of traditional shipping routes and as a driver of South–South integration.

Until now, global maritime trade has relied primarily on two main arteries: the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal. But today, “the stability of these passages is no longer guaranteed,” Bennane reminds, referencing the blockage of the Ever Given vessel in March 2021. In light of these vulnerabilities, the Northern Sea Route (which runs along Russia’s Arctic coast before reaching the Atlantic) offers a logistical lifeline: according to Armateurs de France, it could reduce the distance between Europe and Asia by nearly 40% (about 13,000 km compared to 22,000 km).

Moreover, thanks to the accelerated melting of ice, “experts forecast year-round accessibility without icebreaker ships by 2050,” he continues, opening the door to an estimated 9–11% of global shipping tonnage flowing through this corridor.

In this context, the United States is no longer a mere spectator but “finds itself, for the first time in history, in a position to monitor global trade flows from its own territory via Alaska,” Bennane notes, pointing to the potential emergence of a new, tacit balance between Washington and Moscow.

“What was once considered a battleground between rival powers could become, tomorrow, a space of strategic coexistence where Washington and Moscow jointly—or tacitly—manage commercial traffic and environmental preservation in this zone,” he concludes.

Dakhla, “the Singapore of Africa”

“Equipped with world-class infrastructure, capable of accommodating ultra-large vessels, and supported by a 500 MW green hydrogen production project, the Port of Dakhla is set to play a strategic hub role for landlocked African countries (Mali, Niger, Chad) seeking direct access to global trade flows,” explains the researcher. Its geographic position, halfway between Europe and South America, would allow for more efficient service to these nations lacking a coastline, while also easing congestion on traditional routes.

“Dakhla is not just a port—it’s a symbol: that of an Africa that no longer passively endures globalization, but actively takes part in it”

At the crossroads of major geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges, the Dakhla Atlantic port project is emerging as the spearhead of a new transcontinental corridor, structured around the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the ambitions of the BRICS+ group, according to a… pic.twitter.com/d5sUCca2f8

— TelQuel (@TelQuelOfficiel) May 14, 2025

For Sanaa Haouata, “the idea goes far beyond a simple geographic link. We’re talking about a multidimensional geoeconomic corridor.” On one side, China and Russia are looking to bypass the traditional chokepoints of global trade. On the other, “Africa aspires to sovereign access to the global market, particularly from its southern Atlantic coast.” By directly connecting the emerging markets of Africa, Asia, and Eurasia, this corridor would thus promote South–South integration and shift economic power away from traditional centers.

Dakhla, Haouata believes, “is not just a port. It’s an emerging logistics crossroads, at the intersection of a developing maritime corridor and a continent rich in potential.” Thanks to its future infrastructure (logistics zones, renewable energy, continental connections), “Dakhla can become the Singapore of Africa: a hub for consolidating, processing, and redistributing trade flows,” she adds. “But beyond the technical aspects, there is symbolism: that of an Africa no longer passively enduring globalization, but actively participating in it.”

« A silent shift in trade dynamics »

Positioned at the intersection of South–North and East–West routes, Dakhla Atlantique could offer BRICS+ countries (including newly integrated members like Egypt, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia) a credible alternative to secure their exports.

“Through the Dakhla Atlantic port project, Rabat is clearly signaling its intentions: to become a major logistics player connecting Africa to global trade flows, while strengthening its role as a hub between Europe, Latin America, and emerging Asia,” notes Bennane.

“Dakhla can become the Singapore of Africa: a center for consolidating, processing, and redistributing trade flows”

The pragmatic alliance between Beijing, Moscow, and Rabat along this corridor reveals “a silent shift in global trade dynamics. Where trade was once polarized around traditional North–South routes, new multipolar networks are now emerging, driven by pragmatic alliances among emerging powers,” he concludes.

Realizing this vision requires overcoming several obstacles: massive investments in port and rail infrastructure, multilateral cooperation in geopolitically unstable regions, and the imperative of preserving ecosystems—both Arctic and Sahelian. On the environmental front, the increase in Arctic shipping also raises concerns about pollution and the disruption of fragile habitats.

Nonetheless, the opportunity is immense. By reinventing maritime flows, diversifying trade corridors, and strengthening South–South integration, Dakhla Atlantique and the Northern Sea Route sketch a future in which global trade is no longer the sole domain of historic powers, but a platform for innovative partnerships in pursuit of more equitable development.

Written in French by ElMehdi El Azhary, edited in English by Eric Nielson.