Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

[2] It is an alternative to the Northern Corridor to the north through Russia, and the Ocean Route to the south, via the Suez Canal.

[3] It is undergoing major developments in parts, with the Trans-Kazakhstan railroad completed in 2014 and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway operational in 2017.

[4] In 2022, the Middle Corridor's cargo doubled to 1.5 million tons, while the Northern Route's shipping volume declined by 34%.

However, obstacles to the further use of the Middle Corridor include the limited capacities of seaports and railways, the absence of a unified tariff structure and single operator, and the alignment of geopolitics along the route.

Turkey positions itself as a key player between China and Europe through the Organization of Turkic States for the Middle Corridor, with cargo transportation increasing six-fold in the last decade.