Competition for Economic Corridors: A New Geopolitical Landscape: "Middle Corridor" and Regional Actions
The Ukraine war and its cascading effects on global logistics have catalyzed a fundamental shift in Eurasian geopolitics. Russia's aggressive actions, coupled with the weaponization of its energy and transportation infrastructure, have forced Central Asian and South Caucasus countries west of the Caspian Sea to engage in more direct trade and cooperation, opening up new markets to the west. At the heart of this transformation is the "Middle Corridor," a multimodal network connecting Central Asia to Europe, consisting of railways, ports, and pipelines through the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Turkey. Once a niche project, it has now become a strategic lifeline: since 2022, trade volume has more than tripled, and infrastructure projects that had been shelved for decades are now being advanced with unprecedented urgency.
For the governments of Central Asian countries, this transformation is not just logistical, but one of survival. Diversified trade routes mean greater political independence and economic sovereignty. For Washington, this presents an opportunity to support the region's development ambitions while securing the region's resources in an economically efficient manner, as well as reducing dependence on Russian and Chinese infrastructure across Eurasia. However, for this goal to be achieved, U.S. involvement must go beyond the scope of the C5 countries.
Source: The Diplomat
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847820756193280/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author(s) alone.