China and Russia on the Baltic Sea: Between Rivalry and Cooperation

The Russian-Chinese cooperation conducted on sea basin conducted in the 21st century is aimed at limiting the US ability to control global transport routes, especially energy transport carriers. The community of interests outlined in this way allows for undertaking a number of political and economic initiatives and the use of demonstration of strength in regions where the national interests of both countries are located. Its scope is limited by existing divergences, which particularly concern the European policy of both countries. Chinese plans to build the One Belt One Road transport system are violating the status quo in Eurasia in favour of Beijing. While under the Asian policy both countries have managed to reach a compromise regarding the way of economic activity and the formula for building this merger, the scale of divergence of interests in Europe limits the possibility of reaching a similar agreement. Russia’s goal is primarily to limit the US’s ability to control northern shipping routes, followed by maintaining political and economic influence in Europe in the context of China’s increasing activity and the gradual decrease in the demand for energy resources. For China, the goal is to make the most effective use of the transport system to Europe, ultimately based on the One Belt One Road project. Therefore, the only common strategic goals of both countries in relation to Europe are striving to transfer the burden of US maritime activity from Asian reservoirs to the waters of the Artic and North Atlantic the seas surrounding Europe. However, the Chinese from this group exclude the Baltic Sea, which is to be an area of political stability. However, in the assumptions of Russian policy, the Baltic is to be a substitute region for conducting Arctic rivalry. The existing discrepancies mean that the scope of European cooperation of both countries is limited and will focus on limiting the American dominance on maritime shipping routes and economic undertakings enabling the realization of the interests of both countries.