Geography and Human Relationships

Geography and Human Relationships

Scenarios of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Development of the Middle Corridor: New Changes and Equations in the South Caucasus

Document Type : projects

Authors
Ali Akbar Jafari 1
Hadith Asemani Kenari 2
1 Professor of International Relations, Political Science Department, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
2 Postdoctoral researcher, Political Science Department, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
10.22034/gahr.2025.495224.2334
Abstract
Despite the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh war and the removal of the occupation of the disputed region by the Republic of Azerbaijan, this country's desire to establish a permanent and extraterritorial access to Nakhchivan and the development of the middle corridor has faced difficulties achieving lasting peace. The opening of the Zangezur Corridor and the occupation of the southern part of Armenia (Syunik province) are among the scenarios of the Azerbaijani government to fulfill its wish. The main question of the research is that "what effect does the realization of the plans and programs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the development of the Middle Corridor have on the geopolitical equations of the South Caucasus region?" The current research, using explanatory-analytical method and conducting library studies, examines the hypothesis that the Republic of Azerbaijan is seeking to end the decades of geopolitical bottleneck of this country through direct connection to Nakhchivan and transferring the burden of this limitation to Armenia. Also, the results of the research show that with the completion of the last connecting link between Turkey and the countries of Central Asia, the position of this country in the geopolitical equations of the region will be strengthened, and instead, Iran's position will be weakened due to the weakening of Armenia's rule over its territory and the reduction of the advantage of the North-South corridor.
Keywords
Geopolitical Bottleneck
South Caucasus
Republic of Azerbaijan
Middle Corridor
Armenia

Subjects

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Geography and Human Relationships
Volume 8, Issue 2 - Serial Number 30
Summer 2025
Pages 462-479

  • Receive Date 22 December 2024
  • Revise Date 24 January 2025
  • Accept Date 23 February 2025