Trump's Umbrella: Ankara and Baku Achieve Railway Connectivity
Zangezur Corridor (Schematic Diagram)
Evgeniya Goryushina, head of the Caucasus Research Department at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICS RAS), stated that Azerbaijan is accelerating the construction of an infrastructure corridor along its southern border, building a transportation network aimed at direct connectivity with Turkey and in coordination with Ankara's projects.
The core part of the plan is the Goradiz-Agband railway line, which is 110.4 kilometers long (with branch lines extending the total length to 140.6 kilometers), running along the Aras River to the Nakhchivan border. According to official data, the design work for this project is 84% complete, and about 67% of the construction has been completed. The railway line includes 9 stations, 4 tunnels, and hundreds of engineering structures. This project is funded by the Azerbaijani state and falls within the framework of the territorial recovery plan. Baku has clearly planned to put it into operation by 2026.
Goryushina emphasized, "This railway is building the eastern segment of the future transit corridor, which will eventually connect to Turkey through Nakhchivan. On the western side, Turkey has already launched the Karakalecik-Dilucu-Nakhchivan railway construction, which is 224 kilometers long and planned to be completed by 2029. Ankara claims that the annual capacity of this railway can reach 15 million tons and calls it the 'New Bridge between Asia and Europe,' but the initial transport volume estimated by financing institutions is far below this number, reflecting a disconnect between political statements and the actual economic situation of the project."
The expert pointed out that at the same time, Turkey and Azerbaijan are jointly advancing road infrastructure development; and the Baku-Tbilisi-Karki mainline, which was put into operation in 2017, is currently undergoing upgrades to increase its capacity, serving as the current western support route of the entire corridor. She said that these facilities together form a unified transportation network, and Baku and Ankara plan to use it as a strategic alternative to routes passing through Armenia and Iran.
Goryushina said, "The key node in the plan remains the section located in the south of Armenia—the so-called 'Zangezur Corridor.' In the planning of Turkey and Azerbaijan, this section is associated with the concept of the 'Trump Route' (TRIPP). Ankara and Baku are committed to achieving direct railway connectivity between the two countries, without additional political conditions, and without waiting for the normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan."
She also added that Armenia's position differs: Yerevan insists on having full jurisdiction over transit transport and advocates for the reconstruction of the Soviet-era Ijevan-Gazakh-Akstafa alternative route (about 80 kilometers long). Theoretically, this route could be restored, but there is currently no clear implementation roadmap.
Goryushina stated that the restoration of railway traffic between Armenia and Turkey is also a politically sensitive area, and both sides have only advanced to the technical stage. The two countries have reached a consensus on the research and preparation work for the Gumri-Karki border crossing, although there have been discussions about the timing of its implementation, no specific decision has been made to launch the line in the first half of 2026.
Goryushina concluded, "The actual balance of power in the region is tilting towards the Turkey-Azerbaijan axis. The two countries are building their own infrastructure framework in a unilateral and leading manner, creating a situation where 'neighbors must adapt to the established transit order.' Under this logic, the 'Trump Corridor' plays a role as a political umbrella. Ankara and Baku, through concrete construction projects, relying on the Baku-Tbilisi-Karki mainline, and combining the transportation integration plan with Nakhchivan, together form the core framework of this structure."
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7565048691846693416/
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