“With the rise in geopolitical fragmentation among countries, the reconfiguration of supply chains, and increasing competition among global trade routes, geostrategic positioning has reappeared as a critical determinant of national economic performance. In the case of Azerbaijan, which is an energy-abundant country that has long been dependent on hydrocarbons, the process of long-term economic sustainability is increasingly based on the ability to utilize the fact that the country occupies a unique position as a crossroads of Eurasia. The paper discusses how the Middle Corridor, also referred to as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), has evolved and how Azerbaijan has played a central role in transforming the corridor into an alternative transit route and a core artery of East–West trade,” Muhammad Ali Pasha, foreign affairs expert at The Europe Today, senior expert at the Belgium-based media house EUReflect, and author of several books, told AZERTAC.
The expert further added: “Azerbaijan has been a bridging point between the East and the West, serving as a connection between the civilizations of Asia and Europe through the exchange of traditions, cultural values, and goods. Although oil and gas revenues remain crucial to the national economy, dependence on hydrocarbons makes Azerbaijan vulnerable to price fluctuations and long-term energy transition risks. In this respect, geographic strategic importance has become a critical aspect of economic diversification. The Middle Corridor has been developed as a calculated move to transform spatial advantage into sustainable economic capital.”
“Previously considered an additional path to the Northern (Russia-focused) and Southern (maritime) corridors, the TITR has acquired strategic significance amid geopolitical conflicts, sanctions policies, and increasing pressure on resilient supply chains. The route provides a geographically shorter and politically diversified option for container freight between Europe and Asia.
Recent empirical evidence points to this change. A study conducted by Rhenus Logistics, headquartered in Germany, shows that the volume of container traffic along the China–Azerbaijan–Europe route has grown by around 35–40 percent per year over the past two years, reaching approximately 1.5 million tons in 2022 and around 3.2 million tons in 2024. Given the current trends, the company estimates that by 2030, cargo volumes along this route may double,” Muhammad Ali Pasha added.
“There are various reasons behind the rapid growth of the corridor. To begin with, the reorganization of global supply chains has heightened the need for routes that reduce geopolitical risk. Second, specific investments in infrastructure have increased the operational capacity of key nodes, such as the ports of Baku, Aktau, and Kuryk. Third, improved coordination among the railways of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia has shortened transit times and enhanced reliability.
More importantly, the Middle Corridor has evolved from a back-up route into a fundamental logistics solution. Expanded port capacity on the Caspian Sea, modernization of ferry fleets, and gradual digitalization of customs systems are providing a foundation for continued growth. If the current level of investment and coordination is maintained, throughput could easily double within five years.
Azerbaijan occupies a strategic position in the Middle Corridor. It is the only country along the route that directly accesses both the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus transport system, effectively acting as the logistical pivot of the corridor. The Port of Baku, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway, and investments in digital customs infrastructure have significantly increased transit capacity and reduced delivery times.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has consistently presented the Middle Corridor as a strategic axis of Azerbaijan’s economic policy. Recently, in public comments, he stressed that China will be a major player in future cargo flows along the route. The fact that Beijing is funding major railway projects leading to the Caspian Sea, particularly via Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, despite challenging mountainous terrain, indicates its long-term investment in eastward freight traffic into the Caspian basin and Azerbaijan.
President Aliyev emphasized the strategic significance of the Zangezur Corridor. In addition to reintegrating mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the route would create another international transport link to Western markets. Still dependent on a single westward route, Azerbaijan would benefit from added redundancy, leading to greater competitiveness, the absence of transport monopolization, and more flexible pricing—critical factors for landlocked economies,” he further pointed out.
He concluded: “The growth of the Middle Corridor not only promises higher transit revenues for Azerbaijan but also the economic rejuvenation of the wider Eurasian region. Connecting China, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Europe through a robust and multifaceted route makes the region more interdependent.
As global trade continues to adapt to ever-changing geopolitical and economic realities, the Middle Corridor is gaining greater acceptance as a long-term structural solution rather than a short-term alternative. Azerbaijan can be confident in establishing itself as an influential Eurasian logistics center through a combination of long-term investment, deliberate policies, and strong international partnerships, thereby turning geography into a permanent competitive advantage.”
