Abstract:

South Caucasus, which has an important transition potential but cannot be fully exploited, is at the focal point of the geopolitical and geo-economic interests of the key actors in international relations. The South Caucasus is located at the junction of Europe and Asia, between the Caspian and the Black Sea, between the hydrocarbon-rich Caspian states and their main importers, the EU and Turkey. The region is a strategically important transport hub where communication and trade routes intersect from East to West (ancient Silk Road) and from South to North. Due to its geopolitical location, the South Caucasus is considered to be the carrier of international transport corridors. Railways in the South Caucasus have an important role in the economic development of the region. In this study, the role, development and future prospects of railways along the international transport corridor in the South Caucasus were evaluated. In the first part of the study, the historical development of the railways in the South Caucasus, the geopolitical importance of the railways in the second part, while the third part will focus on how alternative railway lines should be evaluated as a geopolitical element in the South Caucasus. As a result, while new railways and trade corridors emerged in the South Caucasus, it was concluded that by restoring the abandoned lines, Russia and Turkey formed strong alliances and tried to penetrate deeper into the South Caucasus.

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