The Zangezur Corridor in The Architecture of Transport and Logistics Integration of The Organization of Turkic States
Abstract
This study analyzes the significance of the Zangezur Corridor within the developing transport and logistics framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and evaluates its potential impact on the development of the Middle Corridor. Drawing on OTS strategic and regulatory documents and relevant analytical literature, it argues that transport infrastructure serves as a system-forming (structural) element of Turkic integration rather than a supplementary sector. The Zangezur Corridor can be conceptualized as the missing land link in the Türkiye–Azerbaijan–Caspian–Central Asia axis, capable of reducing logistics costs, strengthening the resilience of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and expanding layered connectivity through energy and digital infrastructures. Uzbekistan is emerging as a key actor in shaping transport integration within the Turkic space. This can be seen in its institutional initiatives within the OTS, its efforts to promote multimodal interoperability, and its contribution to developing digital transit tools and East–West connectivity. At the same time, the implementation of the corridor is influenced by political constraints, competition from alternative routes, and the differing interests of external actors. The study also suggests that transport could become a key area of project-based cooperation through OTS+. Overall, the Zangezur Corridor can be understood both as a potential strategic connectivity resource and as an indicator of the institutional maturity of the OTS.
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