25.07.2025 20:57
In her assessment regarding the Zangezur Corridor, which has come to the forefront with the proposal of leasing it to the U.S. by Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Representative for Syria, Associate Professor Merve Suna Özel Özcan stated, "The Zangezur Corridor has become a strategic line that needs to be considered in the Afro-Eurasian axis, beyond being a transit route that connects the Eurasian geography of the region today."
```html
Associate Professor Merve Suna Özel Özcan stated, "The Zangezur Corridor has become a strategic line that needs to be considered on the Afro-Eurasian axis, beyond being a transit route that connects the Eurasian geography of the region today."
The U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, said they proposed that the Zangezur Corridor issue between Azerbaijan and Armenia be placed under the control of an American company for 100 years in order to resolve the matter. Following Barrack's statement, the Zangezur Corridor came back to the agenda.
NOTABLE COMMENT Associate Professor Dr. Merve Suna Özel Özcan from Kırıkkale University’s Department of International Relations wrote an article regarding the approaches of third parties to the Zangezur Corridor between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
"BECAME A STRATEGIC LINE" Özcan wrote, "The Zangezur Corridor has become a strategic line that needs to be considered on the Afro-Eurasian axis, beyond being a transit route that connects the Eurasian geography of the region today." She added, "In a period where corridor wars are taking place, the Zangezur Corridor has become a central position of a highly strategic and sensitive balance for both China and the West. This corridor also forms the key link of the East-West oriented 'Middle Corridor' transportation line extending from Azerbaijan and Turkey to Central Asia. Therefore, the importance of the region is not only superficial but also manifests itself in much deeper geopolitical layers."
Özcan's evaluations were as follows: "The current situation in the process is the increasing interest of the U.S. in the region and the beginning of the deterioration of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. On the other hand, the increasing influence of China in the changing balances in the region should not be overlooked. In this context, the current situation reveals a new Eurasian geopolitics shaped through the Zangezur Corridor and a realpolitik process where strategic chess is back on the agenda."
ZANGEZUR CORRIDOR AND THIRD PARTIES The Zangezur Corridor has become a strategic line that needs to be considered on the Afro-Eurasian axis, beyond being a transit route that connects the Eurasian geography of the region today. In a period where corridor wars are taking place, the Zangezur Corridor has become a central position of a highly strategic and sensitive balance for both China and the West. This corridor also forms the key link of the East-West oriented 'Middle Corridor' transportation line extending from Azerbaijan and Turkey to Central Asia. Therefore, the importance of the region is not only superficial but also manifests itself in much deeper geopolitical layers.
"U.S. AIMS TO INFLUENCE THE REGION" In this context, it is necessary to first focus on the increasing interest of the U.S. in the region. The U.S. has made statements aiming to limit the influence of Iran and Russia in the region through this corridor and at the same time to create an alternative structure to China's Belt and Road Initiative. The proposal of Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Representative for Syria, has brought the idea of leasing the Zangezur Corridor to the U.S. for 100 years to the agenda, proposing a framework that aims to offer a "fair and internationally guaranteed solution."
However, the realism of this proposal is debatable. What needs to be seen is this: The U.S. is trying to directly intervene in this line to encircle China and Russia, attempting to control an important extension of China's Belt and Road Project, thereby aiming to maintain control over the integration process between Europe and Asia. In short, if the U.S. cannot stop China's Belt and Road Project, it aims to gain strategic advantages at the transit points of the project and take on the role of guiding the region economically and politically.
"HAS BECOME A PRIORITY FOR MOSCOW" Secondly, we encounter Russia, the most important actor that has a critical role in shaping geopolitical equations and is at the center of historical issues in the region. Russia has shifted the control mechanism in the region to a different dimension, especially after the Second Karabakh War, and has taken steps to lay the groundwork for the continuation of a process focused on Azerbaijan. However, the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War has seriously shaken Moscow's long-held perception as a "traditional balancing power" in the South Caucasus, dragging Russia into a period of weakening where it cannot sustain its historical power. Therefore, in order not to remain outside the system, an aggressive and interventionist attitude has increasingly become a priority for Moscow.
In this context, a tense process has emerged, starting with the recent crash of a plane belonging to Azerbaijan on the Baku-Grozny route and the deficiencies in Russia's legal and sincere statements. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev regarding the incident of the downed Azerbaijani plane, the tension had not ended. The recent raids and arrests should be read not only as a military or technical issue but also as an explosion of a pressure line based on the historical foundations of Russia-Azerbaijan relations. This situation also raises questions about how rational and sustainable it is for Russia to pursue a pressure or threat-based policy against Azerbaijan.
"IRAN SEES IT AS ITS NORTHERN SECURITY BELT" In this context, the reflections of the crises in the Middle East on the Caucasus should not be overlooked. The inclusion of Iran in the equation shows that the scope of regional competition requires a multi-actor and multi-layered diplomatic ground for peace initiatives. As is known, Iran sees the South Caucasus as its northern security belt and does not want Azerbaijan to strengthen and get closer to Turkey. Of course, in foreign policy, it is not permanent friendship or enmity that determines the balances of regional interests.
``````html
It is known that Iran's presence in Syria has been seriously weakened in the post-Assad process following the 12-Day Wars with Israel. From this perspective, it is possible to reconsider Iran's approach to the Zangezur Corridor and the Turkey–Azerbaijan line, which it opposed some time ago. Indeed, it appears that Iran also needs a common ground for stability with Azerbaijan and Turkey in order to sustain its own existence. Therefore, it is essential for Iran to overcome its fear of being isolated from the north and to constructively engage in the process, directing towards a common area in the context of the Zangezur Corridor.
"CHINA IS BUILDING A SILENT POWER PROJECTION" China's approach to the Zangezur Corridor and the South Caucasus is shaped by the influence of the "Belt and Road Initiative" in its foreign policy. However, at the same time, China is building a silent power projection by acting with strategic patience and economic integration in the region while considering geopolitical balances. Especially with the proposal put forward by Tom Barrack to "lease the Zangezur Corridor for 100 years" on behalf of the USA, an initiative has emerged for the USA to create a strategic space against China. This move directly contradicts China's goal of uninterrupted access to Europe along the Belt and Road route.
On the other hand, Russia's weakening influence in the region due to the Ukraine war could further complicate the power balances. At this point, it should be noted that Ukraine should not be forgotten as a headline in China's process monitoring. Because Ukraine is trying to become one of the decisive actors in the corridor wars over its claim to be a transit country for transporting Azerbaijani gas to Europe. This step could not only facilitate the transportation of Azerbaijani energy but also any energy transported from Central Asia, potentially increasing Ukraine's Western support during the ongoing war with Russia.
However, the current situation is primarily peace-oriented, and the opening of the Zangezur Corridor largely depends on the implementation of the outcomes of the meetings held between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The coming days indicate that the chess pieces in the South Caucasus region will move with firmer and more decisive moves.
```