In a recent interview on Turkey’s Channel 7, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu spotlighted a development with far-reaching implications for Eurasian logistics: the upcoming construction of the Zangezur Corridor, a 43-kilometer transit route through southern Armenia. According to Uraloğlu, the project—unofficially dubbed the “Trump Route”—could significantly boost the capacity of the Middle Corridor, a critical trade link connecting China to Europe by bypassing both Russia and Iran. The agreement to proceed, he noted, was achieved thanks to U.S. diplomatic efforts.
Rewiring the Middle Corridor
With geopolitical friction altering global trade patterns, the Middle Corridor—formally the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR)—has emerged as a key alternative to traditional northern routes. Stretching from China through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, this route has seen a dramatic rise in freight traffic. In 2023, cargo volumes surged over 80%, hitting 2.8 million tons. Projections for 2025–2026 point to a doubling of that figure.
Still, infrastructure gaps and limited throughput—particularly between mainland Azerbaijan, the Nakhchivan exclave, and Turkey—remain a bottleneck. That’s where the Zangezur Corridor comes in: a direct overland link through Armenia that could unlock the full potential of the Middle Corridor.
Strategic Bridge Through Armenia
At the heart of the project is a narrow 43-kilometer stretch cutting through Armenia’s Syunik Province, connecting Azerbaijan’s western regions to Nakhchivan and, ultimately, to Turkey. Beyond its geopolitical symbolism for the Turkic world, the corridor offers real economic advantages: it shortens delivery times, lowers freight costs, and strengthens the transcontinental supply chain from Central Asia to Anatolia.
Turkey, for its part, is investing heavily. A new 224-kilometer rail line from Kars to Iğdır and Dilucu is already underway, aimed at linking seamlessly with Azerbaijan’s upgraded infrastructure. Ankara expects its section to be completed by the end of 2026—on pace with Azerbaijan’s expansion of rail connections to Nakhchivan.
A U.S. Nudge—and the “Trump Route”
Uraloğlu’s reference to American involvement hints at a broader diplomatic play. The U.S. has been quietly backing the Middle Corridor+ initiative—a strategy floated within G7 circles aimed at bolstering East-West connectivity while avoiding Russian and Iranian territory.
The nickname “Trump Route” is less a literal nod to the former president and more a shorthand for Washington’s attempts to reshape Eurasian logistics through high-stakes diplomacy. It’s part of a long game: securing reliable, Western-friendly transit options across a volatile region, and reinforcing the independence of South Caucasus nations through infrastructure.
Economic Promise, Political Peril
If realized, the corridor would break the transport blockade around Nakhchivan, positioning Azerbaijan as a hub for East-West trade and potentially boosting its transit revenues by 30–35% in the first five years. For Turkey, it enhances access to Central Asia and elevates Kars as a key logistics center. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan stand to gain as well, cutting their export route to Europe by more than 1,000 kilometers.
But the road is politically fraught. Armenia has voiced concerns over sovereignty and has demanded reciprocal transit rights and legal guarantees. Without sustained diplomatic pressure and international oversight, the project could stall indefinitely.
A New Trade Map in the Making
If the Zangezur Corridor goes forward, the Middle Corridor would finally take shape as a viable alternative to the Northern Route through Russia and Belarus. According to World Bank estimates, transit volume along the China–Europe axis via the South Caucasus could hit 15–17 million tons by 2030, potentially turning the Caspian region into a central node in global logistics.
More than just a pass-through, Azerbaijan could evolve into a command center for Eurasian trade—where Chinese manufacturing, Turkish logistics, European markets, and American interests converge. For Baku, it’s a chance to translate geography into long-term political leverage and infrastructure modernization.
Conclusion: More Than Just Steel and Rail
The Zangezur Corridor isn’t merely a rail line. It’s a geopolitical litmus test for the new multipolar world, where infrastructure often speaks louder than alliances. For Turkey, it signals a leap toward regional leadership. For Azerbaijan, it’s about securing strategic autonomy. For the U.S., it’s a piece in a broader game to rebalance Eurasia’s energy and transit networks.
If completed by 2026–2027, the Middle Corridor will not just be operational—it will be geopolitical. A new spine for 21st-century Eurasia, shaping trade, diplomacy, and perhaps even a new architecture of trust between East and West.