The inclusion of the Zangezur Corridor in both the East-West and North-South transport routes opens a new chapter in the development of Eurasia as a whole,
Israeli political scientist Yuri Bocharov told AZERTAC.
According to him, the memorandum signed with the direct participation of the U.S. President facilitates the coordination of efforts, which has already attracted significant interest from investors and will become a key factor in capital inflows to the region’s countries.
“Of course, the practical implementation of the project, the construction of infrastructure, and the modernization of existing sections will take time. However, the decision itself is historic and decisive. This step reshapes the balance of power in the region, fosters a new level of trust among participating states, and creates a transparent and mutually beneficial model for cooperation with investors. Most importantly, it provides Central Asian countries with the opportunity to engage directly with Europe, bypassing Russian and Chinese influence, which significantly increases interest in these countries,” the political scientist noted.
Yuri Bocharov emphasized that the Zangezur Corridor is not merely a transport artery but a key element in the new architecture of international cooperation. “Although the project has U.S. support, Russia also maintains its interest. In the future, Russia could connect the Northern Sea Route with the southern direction, gaining access to the Persian Gulf via the Caspian Sea and Iran. This requires the modernization of Azerbaijan’s railway network and the completion of unfinished sections in Iran. Without Azerbaijan, achieving any results in this process is impossible,” the expert highlighted.
According to the political scientist, Azerbaijan’s location at the crossroads of these strategic routes transforms the country into a natural logistics hub for Eurasia and the Middle East. “Here, East meets West, and North meets South, and the rhythm and efficiency of billion-dollar cargo and financial flows will largely depend on Azerbaijan’s position,” Bocharov pointed out.
He believes that this project opens multifaceted opportunities for regional countries. These include the creation of new multilateral cooperation formats, strengthening political trust and security, establishing joint transport-logistics companies and industrial zones, and expanding energy and transit cooperation.
“It can be said with full confidence that the consistent and pragmatic policy of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has turned the country into the strategic center of these global projects. Today, Azerbaijan is opening new horizons for the entire region and reaffirming its status as the leading state in the South Caucasus. Therefore, while some circles may call the Zangezur Corridor the ‘Trump Route,’ in reality, this route is associated with the name of President Ilham Aliyev. It was his determination and strategic vision that turned the project into reality. This is a clear testament to his foresight and precise calculation of the future of regional integration,” the Israeli political scientist emphasized.
