https://doi.org/10.36719/2706-6185/45/223-226
Bahar Shirinova
Western Caspian University
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7523-4388
baharsirinova2@gmail.com
TRACECA and the Great Silk Road: Caucasus and Europe-Asia
Connections Through Azerbaijan
Abstract
TRACECA (Europe-Caucasus-Asia Transport Corridor) is a significant transportation and trade project aimed at the restoration and development of the historic "Silk Road." This initiative plays a strategic role in strengthening trade and logistics links between Europe and Asia. The TRACECA project serves as an important platform for the modernization of transportation infrastructure and the enhancement of transit potential in the region's countries. On the other hand, the "Belt and Road" initiative proposed by the People's Republic of China envisions the restoration of global trade routes on a larger scale and, in this context, shares some parallels with TRACECA.
Azerbaijan serves as a key transit country within both major initiatives. The country’s geopolitical location, positioned at the intersection of East-West and North-South transport corridors over the Caspian Sea, sets it apart. The restoration of TRACECA and the "Silk Road" are complementary projects that make significant contributions to the development of transportation infrastructure in the Caucasus region and the diversification of international trade routes. This process also creates opportunities for Azerbaijan’s economic growth, strengthening regional cooperation, and expanding access to global markets for energy resources. Therefore, the restoration of TRACECA and the "Silk Road" projects is one of the key international initiatives that provides Azerbaijan with both economic dividends and strategic advantages.
Keywords: Silk Road, TRACECA, Belt and Road, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, transport corridors, transit potential, regional cooperation