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Turkey has capitalized on a new U.S.-backed economic corridor called the “Trump Bridge,” as evidenced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s praise for the Zangezur Corridor. This corridor links Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave via southern Armenia and is now being developed with a new railway line, as announced by Ankara.
A U.S.-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan signed on August 8 grants the United States a 99-year lease on this corridor. The project could provide direct access for U.S. forces to the border area north of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, raising security concerns in Tehran. This development also increases America’s strategic presence in the South Caucasus, historically under Russian influence.
Turkish President Erdoğan highlighted that the Zangezur Corridor would maintain peace and stimulate regional road and rail networks, opening borders and boosting trade, according to Anadolu Agency. Turkey has initiated construction of a railway from its northeastern province Kars to Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, aiming to enhance Asia-Europe connectivity through the South Caucasus.
Erdoğan emphasized that realizing the Zangezur Corridor “as soon as possible” was crucial for regional connectivity and strategic importance for both Turkey and Ankara-Baku relations. The project is being built by Kalyon İnşaat and will facilitate passenger and freight transport between the two countries, as reported by Daily Sabah.
Turkish President Erdoğan stated that Russia and Iran would eventually recognize the unfounded nature of their concerns regarding the Zangezur Corridor. Murathan Kalyoncu, Chairman of the Board of Kalyon İnşaat, expressed immense pride in this project, which he described as a significant part of the Zangezur Corridor and a critical component of the east-west axis of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Once completed, the project is expected to reduce Asia-Europe transit time from 18 days to just 12 days, according to Daily Sabah.
