Zangezur Corridor to strengthen Türkiye’s role in trade, energy, and transportation Opinion by Turkish pundit

The opening of the Zangezur Corridor, also known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), is expected to create new opportunities across a broad spectrum of Türkiye’s economy, including logistics, energy, tourism, construction, and the services sector. The corridor is also anticipated to strengthen Ankara’s role in international trade, transportation, and energy markets.

According to local media, these observations were made by Turkish expert Bülent Erandaç in an analytical article published in the newspaper Yeni Asır.

Erandaç emphasizes the strategic significance of the corridor, which links Azerbaijan’s western regions with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR), noting that it holds importance for the entire South Caucasus region. He also points out that the Zangezur Corridor could eventually connect with other initiatives crucial for Türkiye, such as the “Development Road” project linking southern Iraq to the Turkish border, and the planned restoration of the historic Hejaz railway, stretching from Türkiye through Syria to Jordan.

Describing the corridor as “a harbinger of important geopolitical and geo-economic processes,” Erandaç highlights its broader regional impact. “The liberation of the historical lands of brotherly Azerbaijan from Armenian occupation has opened a new chapter in the development of the South Caucasus. With the Zangezur Corridor, Türkiye’s ‘key role’ in both trade routes and the energy sector will be further reinforced,” he writes.

The expert also notes that the corridor will connect to the port of Mersin on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast, providing opportunities to expand trade with African countries and the Red Sea region. “I am confident that the activation of these new routes will transform Türkiye’s economic landscape by the 2030s,” Erandaç concludes.

The Zangezur Corridor itself is a strategic transport project designed to link mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan via Armenia’s southern Syunik region. Proposed following the Second Karabakh War, it aims to provide direct, uninterrupted access between the two Azerbaijani territories.

In August 2025, a trilateral agreement reached in Washington between the United States, Azerbaijan, and Armenia established the framework for opening the corridor. The agreement seeks to facilitate trade, transportation, and wider regional connectivity.

Once operational, the corridor is expected to enhance Azerbaijan’s logistical connections with Nakhchivan, strengthen trade routes between Europe and Asia, and contribute to major infrastructure projects such as the North-South and Middle Corridors. It is also projected to provide tangible economic benefits to Armenia through transit revenues and infrastructure investment.

The project has received broad international support, including from the Organisation of Turkic States, underscoring its potential to promote regional integration and long-term economic cooperation across Eurasia.

By Tamilla Hasanova