Today, transport corridors are widely viewed as geopolitical tools. Those who believe this to be the case tend to argue that states, either independently or in groups, develop their logistics infrastructure and create transport corridors to serve their interests while potentially threatening other countries.
To an extent, this is true since the ability to control a trade corridor offers numerous advantages, from being able to access business data and influence cargo flows, to using the route for military logistics in the event of conflict. This position is not without contradictions, however. While an existing corridor can serve manipulation-related purposes, political will alone is insufficient for creating a viable corridor.
Politicians who view transport projects as a means to fulfil their geopolitical ambitions often overlook a key point: only an economically viable and effective corridor can emerge as a real tool for exercising control and leverage. Large-scale infrastructure projects risk becoming roads to nowhere if they fail to consider market-based mechanisms, demand and competitiveness in the logistics sector.
This report offers an insight into the phenomenon of transport corridors, the mechanisms and drivers underpinning their creation, development and operation with a special emphasis on land-based corridors, while also providing a summary overview of sea routes to outline the general context. This study seeks to answer the following questions: Do corridors serve as geopolitical tools, and can Eurasian transport corridors pose a threat to Russia’s interests? The short answer is no. However, fears of this kind compel countries to dedicate their efforts and resources to developing transport corridors through the territories controlled by friendly or neutral governments, as well as forward-looking infrastructure projects for establishing new corridors, without giving any thought to whether they would be economically viable or effective.
The topic of Eurasian transport corridors has been a focal point for the international community over the past decade. Initially, they were regarded as nothing more than economic undertakings for promoting trade and facilitating logistics. However, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) added a new strategic dimension to these initiatives. China is the largest trade and economic partner for many countries around the world. Therefore, it should not surprise anyone that any initiative, especially a major one, attracts considerable scrutiny and interest, offering fertile ground for multiple, and varying, interpretations, including conspiracy theories.
