Construction of a canal in Nicaragua. What is Russia taking part in the construction?

The construction of the canal in Nicaragua is a kind of alternative to the Panama waterway that connects the Atlantic and the Pacific. The idea of combining two huge reservoirs first appeared in the 16th century, and its actual implementation began only in the last century in the area of the Isthmus of Panama. For construction, the narrowest part of the land was selected, on which a water crossing was built. During the construction, a complicated system of locks was used, which managed to lift huge vessels to a height of 26 meters above sea level. The construction of the canal in Nicaragua was officially launched only in December 2014, and the project implementation period is tentatively estimated in a decade.

The Nicaraguan Channel in History

Conversations, which became the beginning of the world's largest construction project, were initially focused on the arrangement of the waterway in Nicaragua. The idea was prevented by the fact that the width of the Panama isthmus is 4 times smaller than the northern section of San Juan del Norte, where it was planned to transport the vessel from one huge pond to another. The attractiveness of the project was that there were absolutely no mountains and huge granite rocks on the Nicaraguan site. The Saint-Juan River, which had been replete with rolls in the past, was completely reconstructed by the Americans in the past and is no longer an obstacle to construction, but rather accompanies it.

Economic attractiveness of the channel

The Mežokean canal in Nicaragua was of interest in the 19th century, when its technical structure was described in detail by Louis Napoleon himself. The idea was picked up by the Americans, then repulsed by the French, who had authority due to the Suez Canal. The French project failed. Here we indent and draw attention to the fact that in the past two routes of the canal were considered, in the final analysis, in 1914, the Panama Sea Route appeared. His analogy - the Nicaraguan Canal began to be built only at the end of 2014. The economic attractiveness of the latter is that his brother is actively thriving.

The trade turnover is systematically increasing. The project is aimed at saving. The construction of the canal in Nicaragua will shorten the distance between many economic centers, in particular, between New York and San Francisco, the path will be reduced by 800 kilometers. Back in 2006, Enrique Bolaños, President of Nicaragua at that time, said at the summit of states that his country was ready to fully develop the project.

The train moved

The great channel of Nicaragua for many years remained nothing more than mere talk. Only in 2012, the government of the countries began to take actual actions in this direction. In July 2012, a contract was signed to develop technical and economic justifications for the construction with a price of 720 thousand dollars. Already in September 2012, a memorandum is signed in the territory of Hong Kong, indicating the feasibility of construction and determining the economic, environmental and technological consequences. Financing the project was planned at the expense of investors from different parts of the world. At the moment, China remains the main sponsor of the idea. The Nicaraguan Channel became the basis for creating a huge number of jobs not only for the residents of the state, but also for the population of other countries of Central America.

What prompted the implementation of the project many years ago?

The activation of the construction of the multi-year project was due to the global growth of maritime trade systems. If you do not expand the water network connections, after 15 years there will be problems with transportation through the Panama Canal. Experts predict that by 2030 the sea traffic will increase by no less than 240%. In June 2013, Nicaragua adopted a bill, according to which the concession is granted to the company HKND Group. It is she who will implement the idea in the next decade. Since the transfer of the right to implement the project and until the end of 2014, financial issues were resolved.

Difficulties encountered

The construction of the canal in Nicaragua was started after solving a huge number of issues and overcoming many obstacles. Throughout the history of the development of the project against him were active PR war on the part of America. It is problematic to say unambiguously what caused such behavior and indignation of a great state, but it is worth noting a number of points. The owner of the concessionaire company was constantly rumored. Wang Jing was accused of his incompetence. The information was widely spread that the construction of the canal in Nicaragua would not bring any economic benefit. The facts of the reduction in the volume of sea freight were clearly presented. Even known environmental organizations took part in the PR war. None of the provocations of the time was successful, and the project officially started on December 22, 2014.

Interests of countries of the world

The construction of a new canal in Nicaragua is sponsored to a greater extent by China, since the object for the state is of great strategic importance. This is due to the need for large shipments of oil and other commodities from South America. For the Chinese economy, launching the channel will be a real breakthrough. For many countries, the project will open great prospects for development. The President of the country has repeatedly said that the new channel project in Nicaragua will accompany the increase in GDP per capita until the state becomes one of the wealthiest in the world. As for Russia, her government views the project as an alternative route from the Pacific to the Atlantic, but no more.

The role of Russia in the construction of the canal

At first glance, Russia is not very interested in the channel itself. As mentioned above, for the country he is nothing more than an alternative. On the other hand, state support for construction will play a significant role in the political sphere. Taking part in the implementation of the idea, Russia will confirm its commitment to a multipolar world that is closed to monopolization and double standards. In November 2013, the government officially invited Russia to participate and invest assets in order to build a channel in Nicaragua. Russia's participation in the project today is problematic due to lack of information, but as early as 2013, representatives of the state willingly agreed to the proposal and announced that they can take over the delivery of specialized equipment, structures and building materials.

The construction of the inter-oceanic channel in Nicaragua as a way of China and Russia to oppose the US: an alternative development of events

Experts are considering a very interesting version of the true reason for the construction of the canal. The veiled, but always obvious, fact was that it was America that controls the Panama Canal, and Panama itself acts as its protectorate. The way between the two largest oceans is viewed by a certain percentage of experts as an association of Russia and China against the background of a forthcoming battle with the United States in connection with the latest economic events in the world. Note that China was granted a concession not only for the construction of the channel, but also for its use in the next hundred years. To date, Russian industry companies do not officially participate in the construction, but this trend remains in development. As far as such a motive of countries' participation in construction is truthful, it is difficult to judge. The only obvious is the economic benefit from the project for a wide range of world states.

Adherence to Russia

Many economists explain Russia's commitment to Russia not only with the high cost of the project ($ 40 billion, which is ears for the construction of the Panama Canal). The essence of the partnership is that it was Nicaragua that supported the country and fell into the list of 11 states that voted for Russia's position in the UN related to the holding of a referendum in the Crimea. The UN General Assembly at that time adopted a resolution, according to which a referendum on the territory of the Crimea was declared illegal. Only 11 countries supported the meeting, 100 voted against the referendum and 58 abstained. This laid the foundation for close cooperation between the 11 states that opposed the majority: Belarus and Armenia, Syria and Cuba, North Korea and Sudan, Zimbabwe and Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

What privileges did Russia receive from the partnership?

After the start of construction on December 22, Russia received permission to deploy its warships in the territorial waters of the state with the construction of all strategic facilities in order to be able to observe how the channel is being built in Nicaragua. Russia's participation in the construction of the century is assessed ambiguously. There are versions according to which China fully sponsors the construction of a new channel in Nicaragua. The country provides its territory, and Russia is assigned exclusively the defense function of the facility. To judge in this situation is unequivocally impossible, since there is almost complete lack of information, and experts in economics and politics can give the public only their fictional versions of what is happening.

Epochal construction

The construction of a new channel in Nicaragua will be the largest global project in recent decades. The cost of such an idea is estimated at $ 40 billion. The project will be commissioned in 2019, and the final completion of the project is scheduled for 2039. Within the framework of the construction it is planned to build two innovative ports, an airport, an oil pipeline and other commercial structures. The implementation of the project will make a significant contribution to the development of the world economy, will push many countries to prosperity and will bring significant benefits to millions. And what about the Panama Canal? Nicaragua is trying to create such an analogue, which in the future will not be equal. In a few years we will see if this venture was a success.