The Washington agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia has
significantly strengthened the position of the Central Corridor,
according to a meta-study funded by the European Union (EU),
Azernews reports.
The study notes that under the EU’s strategic approach to the
Black Sea region, the Black Sea and neighboring countries are
viewed as a key gateway linking Europe with Türkiye, the South
Caucasus, Central Asia, and beyond. This positioning enhances the
region’s importance in ensuring diversified and resilient
connectivity across Eurasia.
According to the report, for the European Union, developing
transport links with Türkiye, the Eastern Partnership
countries—including the South Caucasus—and Central Asia is
essential for securing rapider and more reliable supplies of raw
materials and goods, while also opening new export markets through
mutually beneficial trade.
“In this context, against the backdrop of the declining
reliability of the Northern Corridor and the slower development of
the Southern route, the Trans-Caspian transport corridor is
emerging as a more promising option for a sustainable, diversified,
and geopolitically stable multimodal connection between Europe and
Asia,” the study states. It adds that rising cargo flows in the
region, combined with the Armenia–Azerbaijan agreement of August 8,
further reinforce the Trans-Caspian corridor as the most viable
route for reliable regional connectivity.
The report highlights that recent years have seen increased
investment in infrastructure projects along the Trans-Caspian
International Transport Corridor. However, it also points to
persistent challenges and “bottlenecks,” both in physical
infrastructure and in institutional and administrative frameworks.
These range from short-term measures—such as improving
border-crossing efficiency to ease congestion—to long-term
investments, including the construction of new ports and transport
facilities.
The study recalls that on August 8, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev
of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia signed
a joint declaration in Washington, D.C., with the participation of
the US President. The document envisages the commissioning of the
Zangezur corridor, also referred to as the “Trump Route,” as part
of broader efforts to restore regional relations. In addition, the
foreign ministers of both countries initialed the Agreement on
Peace and Interstate Relations.
The Central Corridor—also known as the Trans-Caspian
route—connects Asia and Europe via China, Central Asia, the Caspian
Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye. By bypassing traditional
Northern and Southern routes and offering a shorter land-based
alternative to lengthy sea routes, it is increasingly seen as a
cornerstone of Eurasian transport and trade connectivity.
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