TEHRAN: The United States is considering establishing a new land route connecting Central Asia to Europe via Armenia and Azerbaijan as an alternative to China and Russia-controlled routes, according to US officials.
James O’Brien, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, revealed this plan during a hearing on “The Future of Europe” in the US Senate, as reported by Sputnik. O’Brien expressed concern that Central Asian countries currently rely heavily on Russia or China for access to global markets.
The proposed route would pass through Azerbaijan and Armenia, following recent agreements between Baku and Yerevan on border demarcation after their clashes over Nagorno-Karabakh.
In June, US Trade Representative Kathleen Tai visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to advocate for the US-backed version of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. This route aims to connect Central Asia with the West, bypassing Russia and China, by crossing the Caspian Sea and traversing the South Caucasus and Turkey.
In January, European and international investors committed $10.8 billion to enhance “Middle Corridor connectivity” between Europe and Central Asia.
The International Association “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route,” launched by Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, features a version of TITR that includes routes extending to Southeast Asia and China.
Georgia’s Anaklia deep sea port, built by a Chinese-led consortium, is considered a key component of this route. However, the US has expressed concerns about China’s involvement in the port’s construction.
As a result, the US appears to be considering replacing Georgia with Armenia in its version of the TITR, creating friction with Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream Party.
