The Zangezur Corridor, emerging in the aftermath of the Second Karabakh War, is a transformative infrastructure project aimed at connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenia’s Syunik region. As Nargiza Umarova explains, this corridor not only strengthens Azerbaijan-Turkiye connectivity but also offers a crucial new route for Central Asian states seeking efficient access to European markets. By shortening the existing Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route, it promises significant reductions in transit time and costs, enhancing the competitiveness of goods from Uzbekistan and its neighbours. The author highlights that this new link aligns with the expanding significance of the Middle Corridor, especially in light of the reorientation of trade routes away from Russia due to the Ukraine conflict.

 

However, the project’s implementation faces resistance from Armenia and Iran. Armenia is concerned about territorial implications, while Iran fears a strengthened Turkiye-Azerbaijan axis that could diminish its regional influence. Despite these challenges, Azerbaijan has diversified its strategy by developing an alternative route through Iran, thereby reducing dependency on Armenian cooperation. The Zangezur Corridor, alongside the Iranian Aras route, holds the potential to bolster regional trade networks, offering Central Asia enhanced logistical pathways and contributing to the geopolitical reconfiguration of Eurasian trade corridors.

 

* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

 

Read the article on Caspian Policy Center’s website