THE SHAPING OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL “TRADE-ARC” FROM THE INDIAN OCEAN TO THE ARCTIC BASED ON INDIA-RUSSIA AXIS

India's Act East policy is gradually perfecting trade connections from the Indian Ocean through the East Sea and East China Sea to reach the Arctic in the area of Russian traditional influence. This developing trade route called Eastern - oriented economic belt is well-combined with the North-South International Trade Corridor (ILSTC) that the India-Russia axis jointly built as the Western - oriented economic belt. Both trade routes will contribute to shaping the overall circular structure from the Indian Ocean to the Arctic revolving around the India-Russia axis’ areas of influence. This structure is not only based on the privileged Indo-Russian strategic relationship, but is also reinforced by both Indian and Russian governments’ key regional mechanism in which they have most influence. In addition, Indian government also finds support from Russian counterpart in most of their geo-strategic cooperation issues to increase multi-sectoral connectivity between the Eurasian peninsula and South Asia, and Russian government also needs similar support in the opposite direction. Finally, both India and Russia are jointly restrain unfavorable factors or potential conflicts created by groups of their rival countries. This article will therefore (i) analyze the key features of relations between Russia and India in the new context; (ii) evaluate the Impacts of the shaping of the India-Russia trade arc on the region and the world; and (iii) give some recommendations for the ASEAN countries.