The Turkish political elite has a clear and consistent strategy aimed at linking Turkey, in one way or another, with two or three neighboring regions. This strategy is based on the goal of expanding zones of influence while taking security considerations into account. This was stated by Turkologist Varuzhan Geghamyan.
Geghamyan recalled that, starting from the 15th–16th centuries, the South Caucasus was a zone of natural interest for the Ottoman Empire. In fact, it was here that the empire’s borders intersected or ended, opening unique gateways to the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Iranian Plateau, the Turkologist noted. He emphasized that this had practical significance from the perspective of conquest policies and security concerns.
“The South Caucasus is a mountainous, hard-to-access region, a kind of mountain island. By securing a presence there, the Ottoman Empire safeguarded its rear, as well as its eastern and northern gateways. Therefore, since those times, they have paid special attention to political geography. For example, why was the Zangezur Corridor a preferred route? It’s not a coincidence or a mere agreement but a decision dictated by specific natural conditions. The Aras Valley is one of the most convenient routes: favorable climatic conditions, rare snowfall, proximity to the Turkic-speaking population of Iran, and strategic advantages,” he noted.
According to Geghamyan, analyzing political geography makes many phenomena understandable. In Azerbaijan and Turkey, he continues, much more attention is paid to political geography than in Armenia. These countries strive to create conceptual frameworks for their positions, actively using geographical justifications.
“For example, the idea of the ‘Ganja Gap.’ They present a map of Eurasia, highlighting two countries—Russia and Iran. They show Western partners that only Azerbaijan is not a hostile country for them and can be considered a corridor,” he notes.
Based on this idea, the concept of the Middle Corridor is being promoted, one of the key segments of which is the so-called Zangezur Corridor. According to Geghamyan, Turkey and Azerbaijan are transforming this position into a strategic “island” for international partners, indicating that this is the route pathways should take. This corridor is being shaped with consideration of geographical, security, and strategic calculations of Turkey and Azerbaijan’s influence.