Turkey Begins Construction on Strategic Railway to Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan

Turkey has initiated construction on a $2.4 billion, 224-kilometer railway connecting its northeastern Kars province to Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, a project integral to the South Caucasus transit corridor known as the Zangezur Corridor or the Trump Path for International Peace and Prosperity. This railway, backed by a U.S.-brokered peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, is designed to handle 5.5 million passengers and 15 million tons of cargo annually and aims to enhance economic cooperation and regional peace among Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. The project is financed through green loans from international lenders including Japan’s MUFG Bank and Sweden’s Export Credit Agency, and is expected to become a crucial link in an international trade route stretching from China to the United Kingdom. Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu emphasized the railway’s role in opening borders, normalizing diplomatic relations, and positioning Turkey as a key transport hub bridging Asia and Europe. The line will connect Azerbaijan with Turkey’s Mediterranean ports and industrial hubs, boosting trade and regional integration, while offering a strategic alternative to existing routes. Completion of related sections in Nakhchivan, Armenia, and mainland Azerbaijan will increase the efficiency of the wider Middle Corridor connecting China to Europe.