THE MIDDLE CORRIDOR AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF REGIONAL COOPERATION IN CENTRAL ASIA: A GEOECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This article examines the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) through a geoeconomic lens, highlighting its role as a driver of regional transformation in Central Asia. Amid the restructuring of Eurasian trade routes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and sanctions regimes, the corridor has emerged as a strategic alternative to established transport routes, extending from China through Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea, to the South Caucasus, Türkiye, and European markets.

            Moving beyond conventional treatments of the corridor as merely a transport route, the study conceptualizes it as a multidimensional platform for economic integration, institutional coordination, and regional connectivity, combining geoeconomic theory with New Regionalism approaches. Employing a qualitative research design that integrates systematic literature review, document analysis, comparative analysis, and descriptive statistics drawn from international institutions sources, the study traces the corridor's evolution and evaluates its impact on regional cooperation among the five Central Asian states.

            The analysis reveals a pronounced asymmetry in export linkages between Central Asia and the South Caucasus: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan demonstrate the largest absolute export volumes in the region, while Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan show a higher relative orientation of their export flows toward regional markets despite significantly smaller overall volumes of foreign trade. Among the South Caucasus countries, Georgia occupies the most prominent position due to its strategic role as a transit hub. The study concludes that the Middle Corridor's long-term effectiveness depends not merely on infrastructure expansion but on deepening institutional coordination, trade facilitation, and cross-border cooperation, positioning the corridor as a catalyst for a more integrated Central Asian geoeconomic architecture.