Media: Türkiye to reinforce its geostrategic standing through vital transport corridors

Türkiye is set to reinforce its geostrategic significance through major infrastructure projects amid growing global trade challenges and regional tensions, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has announced.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Karayolları Ortaköy Social Facilities, Uraloğlu emphasised that the country is not only geopolitically strong but has now also become a critical geostrategic hub, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

The venue overlooks a bridge that is one of the most vital trade links connecting Europe and Asia, symbolising Türkiye’s central role in global logistics.

“Today, following Israel’s attack on Iran, discussions have emerged about the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” Uraloğlu stated.

“If this occurs, the Port of Faw will lose its function, increasing the importance of having robust land and sea routes under our control. Therefore, we are advancing the necessary work on both the Middle Corridor and the Development Road Corridor.”

The Minister outlined the significance of diversifying transport corridors to avoid over-reliance on single routes, highlighting the Middle Corridor’s capacity to reduce shipment times. Currently, cargo from the Far East takes around 35 days to reach Western Europe via the Suez Canal, or 45 days when circumventing the Cape of Good Hope. 

Completion of the Development Road Corridor is expected to cut this journey to 25 days, while the efficient use of the Middle Corridor could reduce transit times to 18 days, potentially decreasing further to 13 days.

The Middle Corridor includes a rail route crossing the Caspian Sea, connecting Georgian ports on the Black Sea with continuous rail lines through Türkiye to Europe. Despite the ongoing conflict involving Russia, the Northern Corridor remains active, but Türkiye is prioritising strengthening the Caspian transit route.

Uraloğlu reported that approximately 2,262 kilometres of rail infrastructure have been completed domestically, with an investment nearing $50 billion, anticipated to generate $114 billion in production impact and create around 144,000 jobs annually. Forecasts suggest that at least 30 per cent of future rail freight between China and Europe will be transported via these corridors.

Notably, Türkiye is the only NATO country with a rail corridor passing through 21 countries en route to Europe. The Minister reiterated the need to diversify alternatives such as the Middle Corridor and the Development Road Corridor to mitigate risks if the Strait of Hormuz were to close.

Regarding ongoing projects, Uraloğlu highlighted the investment of roughly $24 billion in the Development Road Corridor, which extends 2,100 kilometres through Türkiye. He also explained the limitations of the Marmaray rail tunnel under Istanbul, where only four freight trains can pass daily due to passenger train frequency and maintenance requirements.

Plans are underway to construct a high-speed rail link, starting from Gebze and reaching Halkalı-Kapıkule via Çatalca, running alongside the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge’s double-track railway lines. The tender process is expected this year, with construction commencing next year and completion targeted within four years. The project, costing approximately $5 billion, will significantly boost corridor capacity.

Further, the Osmaneli-Bandırma line is scheduled for completion by 2028, complementing existing high-speed connections such as the Ankara-Sivas route, which currently operates at full capacity. Extensions to Yerköy and Kayseri are also in progress and expected to finish by 2028.

Additionally, infrastructure upgrades include making the entire Development Road Corridor double-track, including the currently single-track segment between Nusaybin, Cizre, and Ovaköy, with tenders planned for this year. The recent tender for the Kurtalan-Siirt line aims to integrate yet another province into the national rail network.

In response to concerns about Turkish aircraft in the conflict zone between Iran and Israel, Uraloğlu confirmed that seven aircraft remain in Iran and four in Iraq, alongside commercial planes and vehicles of Turkish carriers.

Coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Intelligence Organisation is ongoing to ensure safety amid intense missile activity, with Turkish teams relocated to secure locations for support.

By Aghakazim Guliyev