Azerbaijan views Middle Corridor as platform for intercultural dialogue Presidential aide says / VIDEO

Azerbaijan views the “Middle Corridor” not only as a critical transportation artery but as a broader platform for intercultural dialogue and strategic connectivity, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev said during a panel discussion at the GLOBSEC Forum 2025 in Prague.

Speaking at the session titled “The Middle Corridor: A New Geopolitical and Economic Lifeline?”, Hajiyev, who also heads the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, outlined Azerbaijan’s multidimensional approach to the corridor that links China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Türkiye, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Hajiyev emphasised that roads have always been part of Azerbaijan’s understanding of culture and civilisation, and the country has historically been an active participant in this dialogue due to its location along the Silk Road. He noted that while Azerbaijan’s geographic position at the intersection of East-West and North-South routes is important, the real achievement lies in the practical steps taken since independence to realise this potential: “As a landlocked country, we have worked to turn that limitation into an advantage.”

He stated that Azerbaijan’s efforts in this direction span several key areas. First, energy corridors were established through projects like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and others, linking the Caspian Sea with the Black and Mediterranean Seas. Azerbaijan has also built road networks and highways within the country that are connected to neighbouring states.

Hajiyev highlighted that the Caspian Sea is viewed not as a dividing line but as a connecting bridge, and Azerbaijan has developed maritime cooperation with Central Asian countries. Moreover, a concept of an “Air Silk Road” has been developed, and Azerbaijan currently operates nine international airports.

He also spoke about the “Digital Silk Road” initiative, stating that Azerbaijan, together with Kazakhstani partners, is building a high-speed internet connection across the Eurasian continent via the Caspian Sea. Furthermore, work is underway on a “Green Energy Corridor” to deliver the renewable energy potential of the Caspian region to Europe via the Black Sea.

“All of these initiatives are part of Azerbaijan’s strategic contribution to East-West connectivity and the overall concept of connectivity,” Hajiyev added.

Speaking about the role of the green corridor in the country’s energy strategy, Hajiyev stated that the “Green Corridor” initiative is a logical continuation of Azerbaijan’s energy connectivity strategy and represents a new phase in this direction.

He noted that Azerbaijan’s total renewable energy potential on land and at sea is estimated at 200 gigawatts. Based on this potential, Azerbaijan is working together with Georgia, Romania, and Hungary on a cable project that will run across the bottom of the Black Sea. Bulgaria has also joined this initiative.

Hajiyev noted that work on the green corridor is currently being carried out along two directions: one along the Black Sea route, and the other via the Türkiye-Bulgaria line. He added that during COP29, Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Trans-Caspian renewable energy projects with Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

He emphasised that the European Union needs new energy sources and new electricity capacities amid the digital transition. In this regard, the South Caucasus and Caspian regions are both geographically close and reliable partners for Europe.

Considering these parameters, the green corridor can act as a new and strategic component of the east-west corridor, Hajiyev said.

Turning to the geopolitical dimension, Hajiyev pointed out that the European Union has yet to clearly define its strategic objectives in the region. “Azerbaijan does not seek assistance,” he emphasised, “but rather a fully-fledged cooperation and partnership.”

"We have our own investment capabilities and strong partnerships. Look at the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars project, implemented in cooperation with Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Frankly, when we started this project, European and American funds stopped financing it. Nevertheless, we decided to implement it with our own resources and successfully completed it. We have also connected all our major transport infrastructure with our partners in Central Asia. Currently, together with China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, we are building a railway system that will create a short 900-kilometer route to Central Asia," he said.

Hikmat Hajiyev stressed that all these processes are coordinated through the Trans-Caspian route: "But now I have a question: Where is the European Union? Yes, you can join us as a partner, but we still do not see a clear understanding of what the EU wants. TRACECA is an important project that made a contribution, but it's a bit like putting old wine in a new bottle. We need new wine in a new bottle — a new approach, a new strategy."

By Vugar Khalilov