The Zangezur corridor, which will connect Central Asia, the Caspian basin, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to Turkey, is considered a strategic project in terms of both regional trade and energy security.
According to information from Modern.az, an article published by the "Anadolu" agency states that the corridor, as a key part of the Middle Corridor, will accelerate Turkey's transformation into an energy and logistics hub in Eurasia.
In August, practical steps for the corridor were taken with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kars–Iğdır–Aralık–Dilucu railway line. Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, stated that the project holds strategic importance not only for Turkey but for the future of the entire South Caucasus and Eurasia.
According to ODTÜ Professor Oktay Tanrısever, the Zangezur corridor is the shortest route for delivering Caspian energy resources to Turkish and European markets. In his opinion, the strategic importance of the project is linked to both the reduction in the number of transit countries and its greater distance from Russia's sphere of influence:
“The corridor can be used for oil, gas, and electricity transmission in the future. However, for this, security must be ensured and political stability strengthened.”
Tanrısever added that the European Union and the USA provide political support for the corridor as they see it as an an energy route independent of Russia. However, it may take at least 3–5 years for specific energy lines to become operational.
ASBÜ Professor Levent Aydın, on the other hand, stated that major energy pipelines such as TANAP, TurkStream, and BTC have already transformed Turkey into an “energy bridge.” The Zangezur corridor could be an additional “link” to these routes:
“When the project opens, a new strategic infrastructure will be formed not only for cargo transportation but also for pipelines, electricity transmission lines, and digital communication.”
According to him, the transportation of Turkmen gas via the corridor is also possible in the near future.
He noted that the USA supports the corridor to weaken Russia's energy influence, while the EU supports it to reduce energy dependence after the Ukraine war. China, on the other hand, views the corridor as a “new front in corridor wars” and invests in the region within the framework of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.
According to experts, the commencement of primarily cargo transportation via the corridor is expected in the coming years. The formation of energy infrastructure, however, could materialize within 5–10 years, depending on political stability and regional agreements.
Thus, the Zangezur corridor is evaluated as a strategic project that will impact the future of Turkey and the region as a whole, not only economically but also geopolitically.
