Russia has started an ambitious project to transport oil southward through Afghanistan with the goal of reaching warm water ports, as a calculated move to diversify its oil export routes. This event represents a dramatic change in Russia’s geopolitical and economic tactics in the face of intensifying international sanctions and rivalry in established markets.“Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan announced plans to build a logistics center in Herat province in western Afghanistan,” Reuters reported.

The new route connects Russia’s abundant energy resources to the Arabian Sea by taking advantage of Afghanistan’s strategic location. By linking Russia’s abundant energy resources to the Arabian Sea, the new route takes advantage of Afghanistan’s strategic location as a transit hub. This is a small step in Russia’s larger campaign to get around economic sanctions imposed by the West, which have progressively limited its access to international markets.

Though, there are some difficulties with this plan. The project is seriously at risk due to Afghanistan’s unstable security situation. The transportation and infrastructure development required for the route could be hampered by insurgencies and militant activities in different parts of the world. However, officials from both Russia and Afghanistan have voiced confidence in controlling these risks by stepping up security cooperation and funding regional stability projects.

Additionally, The Diplomat reported that “after the first wave of sanctions following the invasion of Crimea in 2014, it [Russia] adopted the same policy of re-routing its pipelines and energy exports through “friendly” transit states.

If the route is successful, according to economists, it could drastically change the dynamics of the world’s oil trade. Russia’s intention to shift its energy export focus to Asia and the Middle East is evident from this move.