According to Nargiza Umarova, Senior Research Fellow at IAIS, recent geopolitical crises in Eastern Europe and the Middle East have created favourable conditions for the development of intercontinental land trade routes, significantly elevating Central Asia’s strategic role as a transit region linking major Eurasian markets.

 

In her recent analysis, she notes that this shift was expected to enhance intraregional transport connectivity and facilitate the integration of the Central Asian republics into global supply chains, both of which are crucial for the region’s economic growth. However, she argues that unity among the five Central Asian states on these initiatives remains elusive, as presently, these nations prioritise the development of international transit corridors over improving local connectivity.

 

The author states that the lack of coordination between the countries has resulted in the duplication of projects, while their focus on individual interests has fostered unhealthy competition. This rivalry is particularly evident in the actions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, each of which is pursuing alternative routes to access Turkish and European markets via the Caspian Sea.

 

Read the Policy brief on Central Asia-Caucasus Institute’s website for details