Uzbekistan–Azerbaijan–Georgia Partnership Advances Middle Corridor Integration

The Jamestown Foundation  |  Roza Bayramli

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s July 2–3 state visit to Georgia established a strategic partnership to accelerate Middle Corridor integration and secure westward trade routes. This bilateral agreement introduces digital customs systems and extends rail discounts to bypass traditional Russian transit corridors, directly enhancing Central Asian supply chain resilience and trade diversification.

Landlocked Central Asian states have historically relied on northern rail networks, but geopolitical shifts now compel these nations to seek alternative maritime access. Consequently, Tashkent is actively pursuing a permanent logistics footprint on the Black Sea coast, specifically targeting terminal operations at the planned Anaklia Deep Sea Port. This facility is transitioning to a state-led landlord model following the withdrawal of a Chinese consortium, opening opportunities for multi-nation terminal investments. Integrating the developing China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway with the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line will further consolidate this trans-Caspian network. Ultimately, these linkages will cement Azerbaijan's role as a transit hub, transforming fragmented national projects into a unified east-west trade corridor.

Comment

Black Sea maritime logistics face severe disruption from asymmetric naval warfare. Sea Baby drone strikes threaten commercial shipping lanes near Georgian waters. Landlocked Central Asian states must secure alternative overland routes to mitigate these maritime vulnerabilities. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway offers a critical land-based redundancy for trans-Eurasian supply chains.

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