Unlocking the Potential in the South Caucasus: The Zangezur Corridor’s Impact on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor)

Year 2024, Volume: 29 Issue: 2, 148 - 173, 07.01.2025

Turan Gafarlı

Abstract

The South Caucasus region has increasingly become a focal point of geopolitical interest, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This article examines the strategic importance of the Zangezur Corridor, a proposed transportation route designed to connect Azerbaijan’s western regions with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The study identifies the internal and external factors influencing the development of this corridor, which promises to enhance regional connectivity and integrate the South Caucasus into the broader Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). Internally, the article discusses the political and economic challenges that Azerbaijan, Armenia, and neighboring countries face in realizing the corridor’s potential. Externally, the research explores the influence of geopolitical actors such as Iran, Türkiye, and Russia, whose interests and interventions have shaped the corridor’s trajectory. By analyzing the interplay between these internal and external factors, the article seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of the Zangezur Corridor’s potential to transform regional dynamics, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the pursuit of greater regional stability and economic development.

Keywords

Zangezur Corridor, South Caucasus, Middle Corridor, regional connectivity, geopolitics

References

• References are indicated in the article