Think Tank: The "Middle Corridor" in Central Asia Aligns with U.S. Interests

There are many reasons why the "Middle Corridor" aligns with U.S. interests. The most important is that it provides an alternative to transportation and energy routes passing through Russia, which has become increasingly significant since the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia war. The "Middle Corridor" connects Europe and China via Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Given the disruption of the "Northern Corridor" due to Western sanctions against Russia, it is becoming a more reliable alternative to the "Northern Corridor."

Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan are eager to support this corridor and leverage Kazakhstan's strategic location to promote transport connectivity.

Before 2022, the Northern Corridor carried most of the overland freight from China to Europe.

The potential of Central Asia goes far beyond transportation routes. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are expected to become important economic and diplomatic partners. As of 2022, Kazakhstan supplied more than 25% of the uranium imports to the United States, and it is a major oil producer, with Western companies such as Chevron and ExxonMobil operating there. Meanwhile, as the most populous country in Central Asia, Uzbekistan is increasingly positioning itself as a regional coordinator and mediator, committed to building Central Asia into a platform for multilateral cooperation to expand the region's economic, transportation, and logistics potential.

Considering the logistics opportunities for the U.S. in Central Asia, abolishing these Cold War-era barriers would enable the U.S. to deepen commercial ties with Central Asia and support its economic liberalization, even in an environment where China is also active. This dynamic aligns with the diversification of Central Asian countries' foreign policies.

In addition to trade, these restrictions also limit the U.S. access to strategic resources critical for national defense. After abolishing the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, the U.S. could reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals. Strengthening cooperation with Central Asian countries to ensure the supply of these essential materials would weaken China's monopoly and provide opportunities to establish secure supply lines for critical minerals.

Source: The National Interest

Author: Alex Little

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841024626556040/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author(s) alone.