The Zangezur Corridor: A Geopolitical Chess Game Unfolding in the Caucasus

The South Caucasus region has once again found itself at the center of geopolitical tensions, with the Zangezur corridor emerging as a focal point in the ongoing chess game between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Armenia. Against the backdrop of historical animosities and recent military conflicts, the corridor has become a symbol of strategic importance and regional aspirations.


In the aftermath of Azerbaijan's September 19 attack on Karabakh, a seemingly concluded ceasefire on September 20 did little to ease the underlying tensions. Karabakh Armenians, left vulnerable to the Aliyev regime, are now migrating to Armenia in convoys. The anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan, witnessed in 2020, 2022, and the recent war, is a driving force behind this displacement.




The Zangezur corridor, a topic continually brought to the table since 2020, has resurfaced in discussions between Ankara and Baku. The ambition is to establish a corridor connecting Nakhchivan with Azerbaijan, necessitating its passage through Armenian territory. Armenia, while willing to open transportation channels, vehemently opposes a corridor beyond its control traversing its sovereign land.


Erdogan and Aliyev appear to be capitalizing on Armenia's military vulnerability and strained relations between Yerevan and Moscow to advance the Zangezur corridor project. This ambition for a clear passage from Turkey to Central Asia raises questions about its potential implications and the underlying motivations. Is it solely a matter of regional connectivity, or does it harbor deeper, more expansionist desires?


The Zangezur corridor, it seems, is more than just a transportation route. It symbolizes the geopolitical ambitions of Turkey and Azerbaijan in the region. The corridor serves as a means to extend influence, consolidate power, and reshape regional dynamics. The recent statements from Erdogan and Aliyev in Nakhchivan leave little doubt about their intentions.


As the geopolitical chess game unfolds, the Zangezur corridor's potential realization could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus. It has the potential to alter the balance of power, redraw regional alliances, and impact the lives of those caught in the crossfire. The international community must closely monitor these developments to prevent further destabilization in an already fragile region.

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