Turkey and the EAEU in Regional Transport Systems: Rivals or Partners?

Abstract

The economic and political climate between Russia and Turkey has become milder recently, as ongoing global turbulence and regional conflicts have forced the two states to reach compromises. As a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Russia has to balance its national interests with those of other EAEU members when dealing with Turkey. The EAEU and Turkey possess solid, albeit underutilized, transit potential for East-West trade as parties to the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Both corridors take the same route and offer quicker delivery  dates compared to seaborne options, although they face similar constraints. However, TRACECA’s economic feasibility is questionable, as its politically-driven logic of bypassing Russia turns Russia and Turkey into rivals for transit flows. BRI, although yet to be clearly defined, appears more infrastructure-oriented and focused on a region-wide economic impetus, turning Russia, other EAEU states and Turkey into partners under the framework of Greater Eurasia.

Keywords

• Eurasian Economic Union,Turkey,Regional Transport and Logistics System,Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia,Belt and Road Initiative,Transport Corridors

References

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