Azerbaijan’s Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) has prepared a report titled “TRIPP - Zangezur Corridor: Strategic link for trade, transit, and regional growth,” the AIR Center told AZERTAC.
Prepared under the supervision of AIR Center Chairman Farid Shafiyev, the report reflects a partnership between the Center experts and ADA University students.
This study examines how TRIPP’s development influences regional interconnectivity and the balance of power in the South Caucasus. Drawing on document analysis, expert interviews, and scholarly frameworks on transport corridor geopolitics, the research addresses three central questions: First, what is the economic significance of TRIPP for the involved countries and broader Middle Corridor connectivity? Second, how does the corridor’s development affect regional power dynamics and geopolitical alignments? Third, what political, legal, and technical challenges impede its implementation, and what pathways exist for overcoming these obstacles?
The analysis demonstrates that TRIPP’s strategic importance extends across multiple dimensions. Economically, the corridor promises to enhance trade efficiency, reduce transportation costs, and integrate Central Asian economies into global markets through shortened routes to Europe. For Azerbaijan and Armenia, joint infrastructure development offers opportunities for confidence-building and interdependence that can reinforce peace normalization. The corridor also benefits multiple regional actors: Armenia gains transit revenues and market access, Azerbaijan consolidates its transport hub status, while Russia and Iran retain potential roles in complementary connectivity networks.
