Turkey has become a key country in the transportation route 'Middle Corridor'

The importance of the Middle Corridor, which starts from Turkey and reaches the Caucasus region, and then crosses the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, followed by Central Asia and China, increased even more when the ship named "The Ever Given" ran aground in the Suez Canal.

Ankara

The importance of the Middle Corridor, which is strategically important for the revival of the historical Silk Road and reaches to Central Asia and China, starting from Turkey to the Caucasus, and then crossing the Caspian Sea, following Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, "The Ever Given" It increased even more after the trouble experienced when the ship named ship ran aground in the Suez Canal. Recent developments and giant projects have made Turkey the key country of this corridor.

International Trade Routes and International Economic Security Specialist Sefa Çatal evaluated the importance of the Middle Corridor and Turkey's role in this route to the AA correspondent.

Stating that China aims to promote economic cooperation through Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East, which are the main arteries of the historical Silk Road, passing through Eurasia via the Middle Corridor, Çatal also said that the country aims to strengthen its global political and economic influence in this way.

Çatal stated that the Middle Corridor, starting from Turkey to the Caucasus, and then crossing the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, reaching Central Asia and China, is one of the most important components of the project for the revival of the historical Silk Road. he said:

"The Middle Corridor, which is an alternative to the 'Northern Corridor' in which Russia is located and the 'South Corridor' in which Iran is located, has an important place for the integration of China and Europe. The North and South corridors that connect the city to Turkey are also lines where there is a high probability of experiencing difficulties in terms of their geopolitical positions.

"North and South corridors are not convenient"

Çatal stated that the Northern Corridor could be shaped according to the relations between Russia, the USA and China, and that this process may result in the detriment of China, and that this country may find itself in a possible East-West polarization.

Pointing out that there is a similar danger in the Southern Corridor, Çatal said, "US-centered, Saudi Arabian and Israeli policies, the isolation of Iran and the conflicts in the Middle East, the continuation of the chaos environment, put the southern route of the Belt and Road Initiative at risk. takes.” said.

When the current and possible conditions are examined, Çatal emphasized that the most trouble-free route that will carry China to Europe and the Middle East by land is the Middle Corridor, which includes Turkey, and made the following assessment:

"There is no country in this corridor that will force China and the region in terms of economic competition, military and politics. On the contrary, countries can develop their relations with great powers such as China and see this as an opportunity to create an opportunity for their own development. Turkey offers access to Europe and the Balkans. It is an exit door and also the most important country in Central Asia and the Middle East to cooperate in the economic field.The fact that Turkey, where the Middle Corridor passes, controls all strategic transit routes in the context of Asia-Europe, brought the country to a key position for the project. "

Investment in the Middle Corridor expected to reach $8 trillion

Noting that the investments to be made in the Middle Corridor are expected to reach 8 trillion dollars in total, Çatal said:

"It is stated that the portion of this amount allocated only for transportation infrastructure will reach 40 billion dollars. The aim with all these investments is the revival of the historical Silk Road, which includes Turkey. As a result of the agreements between Turkey and China, a budget of 40 billion dollars was made for the project in the first place. The Modern Silk Road Project is of vital importance for Turkey, which has advantages such as its geopolitical location, production power, high potential and being an inter-sea transit country."

Giant projects such as Çatal, Yavuz Sultan Selim and Osmangazi bridges, 18 Mart Çanakkale Bridge, Eurasia Tunnel, Kanal Istanbul, Istanbul Airport and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway contributed to the Belt and Road Initiative Project in terms of transportation and logistics, He explained that he brought the city to a bridge position between Europe and Asia.

"Logistics delays cause billions of dollars in damage to world trade"

Çatal stated that the jamming of the ship The Ever Given in the Suez Canal had a negative impact on world trade and once again showed how important alternative routes are.

Stating that hundreds of ships are waiting for the canal to be opened with this event, and the hourly cost of this to world trade is close to half a billion dollars, Çatal said, "Every year, 1 percent of the losses in world trade are due to logistics delays and these losses amount to billions of dollars." he said.

The importance of Kanal Istanbul

Reminding that the accident in the Suez Canal also brought up the importance of the Canal Istanbul Project, Çatal said:

"It is obvious that the route will be unusable in case of an accident or negativity in the straits in Turkey. In the case of the realization of Kanal Istanbul, both alternative route options will be available and the security of the straits and the living areas around it will be ensured. If we consider the contributions of the Suez Canal to the Egyptian economy, it is stated that the annual contribution of the Suez Canal to the economy of the country is 6 billion dollars, and the Panama Canal is 2 billion dollars. "

Minister Karaismailoğlu also emphasized the importance of the Middle Corridor.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu said, "We will create the safest logistics passage in the world with our autonomous shipping and navigation system that we will create for Kanal Istanbul. There will be no malfunctions that will affect neither our country nor the global economy." had used the words.

Considering the three major trade routes from China to Europe, Karaismailoğlu said, a container travels 7 thousand kilometers over Turkey in 15 days, 10 thousand kilometers on the Russian Northern Trade Road in 15-20 days, 20 thousand kilometers over the Suez Canal. Noting that it reached Europe in 45-60 days, he noted that this picture reveals the importance of Turkey, which is at the intersection of three continents.