Murmansk Port

India’s engagement with Russia’s Arctic region has been strengthening with India-bound goods constituting the maximum share of cargo handled this year by ‘Murmansk Port’.

About the location:

• The seaport of Murmansk is one of the largest ice-free ports in Russia.
• It is located on the Kola Peninsula at the coast of Barents Sea.
• It is about 2,000 km northwest of Moscow.
• The port is navigated all year round.
• The main port capabilities are located on the western coast of Kola Bay, among them the mooring berths of the commercial port (including passenger area), fishing port, ship-repair yard, shipyard, oil terminal, and FSUE Atomflot premises.
• On the eastern coast of Kola Bay there is a number of small fish and fleet maintenance terminals.

Chabahar port

Under the new move to pursue arbitration, India and Iran has drafted a foreign arbitration clause under rules framed by the UN Commission on International Trade Law which will help firm up longer-term agreement on Chabahar.

About Chabahar Port:

• The Chabahar Port is a key pillar of India’s India-Pacific visionto connect Eurasia with the Indian Ocean Region.
• Located in Iran, it is the commercial transit center for the region and especially Central Asia.
• The portwill also be part International North-South Transport Corridor network connecting India.
• Notably, the first rail transit cargo from Russia to Indiaentered Iran recently through the Sarakhs border crossing, marking the official launch of the eastern section of the North-South railway corridor.

Palau

The U.S. Coast Guard will have an expanded right to board vessels in Palau’s waters under a new maritime law enforcement agreement that comes after incursions by Chinese ships into the Pacific island country’s exclusive economic zone.

About Palau Island:

• Palau is a country in the western Pacific Ocean that consists of coral and volcanic islands surrounded by single barrier reef.
• Palau lies in the southwest corner of Micronesia (country spread across the western Pacific Ocean comprising more than 600 islands), with New Guinea to the south, and the Philippines to the west.

• Its major populated islands are Babelthuap (Babeldaob), Koror, Malakal, Arakabesan, and Peleliu.
• There is concern that the low-lying islands could be badly affected by rising sea levels possibly due to climate change.

Gabon

Recently, Military officers in Gabon have seized power, placing President Ali Bongo under house arrest after he was declared the winner of a disputed election.

About the location:

• Gabon is a central African country, is rich in natural resources.
• Located on the Atlantic Ocean, it borders Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of Congo.
• It is sparsely populated, with a population of 2.3 million (2021) and forests covering 85% of its territory.
• Gabon, the fourth largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa, posted strong economic growth over the past decade, driven mainly by oil and manganese production.

Key Facts:

• India is now the second-largest destination for Gabonese exports.
• Over 50 Indian companies have set up manufacturing units in the Gabon Special Economic Zone.