BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. Global players are
vying for access to strategic transportation routes to ensure their
uninterrupted operation, as the new world order evolves due to the
decline of old security structures and economic principles, Trend
reports.
With trade and transportation routes from Russia to the West
disrupted due to the conflict in Ukraine, official Moscow has
prioritized seeking new trade partners and markets in the eastern
and southern directions. Presently, the Zangezur Corridor emerges
as a crucial project in this endeavor, aimed at connecting
Azerbaijan with Türkiye and facilitating trade between Europe and
Asia via the Middle Corridor.
In the prevailing geopolitical climate, this transportation
route holds significant strategic importance for bolstering
Russia’s political, economic, and trade connections with nations in
the Global South, Türkiye, the Middle East, and Iran. Russia views
it as crucial to enable the Federation, amid severed trade ties
with Western states and imposed sanctions, to access alternative
regions.
In this context, a joint statement signed on November 10, 2020,
by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia designated the
Russian Federal Security Service to oversee the re-establishment of
communications between Azerbaijan and Armenia. From the Azerbaijani
perspective, the oversight by Russian border guards in the corridor
where unrestricted movement will occur does not jeopardize its
strategic interests. Instead, it neutralizes Armenia’s potential to
employ blackmail or geopolitical leverage against Azerbaijan in the
future.
Certainly, this is also agreeable on the Russian side. However,
recent events concerning the East-West corridor warrant attention.
Challenges have emerged along the northern, or main, section of the
East-West transport corridor by land due to the conflict in Ukraine
and ongoing clashes in the Red Sea between the Houthis and local
authorities, including coalition forces. Consequently, the Middle
Corridor has garnered significant attention. For Russia, excluded
from the East-West transport corridor, connecting to the Zangezur
corridor holds global significance. Viewed as a secondary transport
route, this corridor would enhance the capacity of the Middle
Corridor and its utilization possibilities.
However, one must not disregard Russia’s increasing distrust of
Armenia and Armenia’s recent alignment with Western structures.
Nikol Pashinyan’s government, backed by Western nations, asserts
its control over transportation communications.
At present, Western powers, particularly France, are striving to
bolster their political and military influence in Armenia.
Consequently, they oppose the Zangezur corridor project, aiming to
hinder Russia’s expansion into new regions.
Following the conflict in Ukraine, Odessa city and the Zangezur
region have gained strategic significance in France’s new front
against Russia across Eastern Europe, encompassing Moldova,
Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia. Indications of France’s intention to
establish a consulate in Gafan, Armenia, and Emmanuel Macron’s
stance on the Odessa situation suggest imminent military
involvement by France in both regions.
Furthermore, ensuring Russian oversight of transportation routes
in the strategic Zangezur region is crucial for the development of
the internationally significant North-South transport corridor.
Deviating from the approved (east, central, and western) routes
of the International North-South Transport Corridor project, which
links the Global South with the Black Sea and the West through
Iran, Armenia, and Georgia, is contrary to the interests of
Russia.
Figure 1: International North–South Transport Corridor’s
approved routes
Currently, the Russian Federal Security Service oversees border
control along the Armenian-Iranian border within the Zangezur
region, a pivotal area for this project.
Russia is keen to maintain its oversight role in Zangezur to
prevent the implementation of a project that aims to bypass Russia.
Conversely, the West aims to establish transportation and logistics
connections to Iran and beyond to the global South, excluding
Russia from the equation.
Figure 2: Global South connecting to Europe via
Iran-Armenia-Georgia, bypassing Russia
Thus, regional collaboration has been hindered as the Zangezur
region has become a new battlefield in Eurasia for the West and
Russia. An additional “battlefield” or “gray area” in Eastern
Europe, the situation in Armenia is further complicated by the
ongoing conflict.
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