Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Middle Corridor initiative (designed to connect China with Europe) has received renewed attention as an alternative to the Northern Corridor leading through Russia, and to the much slower sea route.
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan are all hoping to capitalize on this interest, but several challenges remain before the Middle Corridor route can become competitive.
Key questions to be discussed include:
- How much work has actually been done to develop this route?
- What are the infrastructural and political challenges?
- What are the positions of the key players?
- What does the initiative mean for China’s influence in Central Asia and the South Caucasus?
