Institutional analysis demonstrates shifting Eurasian trade flows toward the Trans-Caspian route, highlighting accelerated political and economic integration across Middle Corridor nations.
The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of geopolitical transformations on the development of transport and logistics infrastructure and economic cooperation between the countries of the Middle Corridor. The research methodology was based on the principles of objectivity and systematics, applying comparative and institutional analysis. Special attention was paid to the examination of strategic documents and programmes of Azerbaijan in the field of transport and logistics infrastructure. The study revealed the transformation of the architecture of Eurasian trade routes as a result of the geopolitical crises of 2022-2025, leading to a 51% reduction in the volumes of transport via the Northern Corridor and the redirection of 90% of cargo flows through African routes. There was also a notable increase in the volume of transport along the Trans-Caspian route, from 3.2 million tons in 2022 to an expected 10 million tons in 2027, with a reduction in transit time to 14-18 days. The evolution of economic cooperation mechanisms from fragmented bilateral initiatives to a comprehensive system of multilateral interaction, based on institutional coordination and digital transformation of logistics processes, was demonstrated. Azerbaijan’s central role in the formation of the new architecture of regional integration, due to its strategic geographical location and leading role in the digitalisation of the region’s transport and logistics sector, was justified. The potential of the Zangezur Corridor as a catalyst for deepening regional integration was identified through the creation of a direct land connection between the transport systems of Azerbaijan and Turkey. The formation of qualitatively new mechanisms of regional integration, encompassing political coordination, ensuring collective security, and establishing sustainable partnerships through the development of Turkic cooperation, was established. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of theoretical foundations for understanding the transformational processes in international transport and regional integration in the context of geopolitical instability.
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Gasimov et al. (2026) studied this question.