In this interview with AZƏRTAC, Dr. Khayotjon Ibragimov, Leading Research Fellow at the Center for Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitics, examines the growing strategic relevance of the Middle Corridor amid rising instability in the Middle East and mounting risks to traditional maritime trade routes. He argues that disruptions around key chokepoints such as the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz have reinforced the urgent need for safer, more reliable, and geopolitically resilient overland connections across Eurasia. In this context, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is presented not merely as a promising initiative, but as an increasingly vital pillar of regional and global trade security.
The interview also highlights the particular importance of the Middle Corridor for landlocked states, especially Uzbekistan, for which improved access to external markets is closely linked to economic sovereignty and long-term development. Dr. Ibragimov underscores that projects such as the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway could significantly strengthen Central Asia’s integration into transcontinental logistics chains, turning the region from a transit space into an emerging distribution and connectivity hub. He further notes that the corridor’s expansion is stimulating investment in infrastructure, port development, and customs digitalisation, thereby creating new opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
Beyond its economic dimension, the interview frames the Middle Corridor as a platform of political stability and strategic cooperation. By linking the interests of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and other regional actors through shared transit revenues and common logistical priorities, the route contributes to stronger interdependence and encourages diplomatic approaches to regional challenges. As global uncertainty deepens, Dr.Ibragimov presents the Middle Corridor as a mechanism through which the countries of the region can reduce external vulnerabilities while securing a more influential place in the evolving architecture of Eurasian trade.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
