Middle Corridor touted as alternative to routes affected by ongoing conflicts

The Middle Corridor could serve as an alternative to routes affected by ongoing conflicts, said Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

Talking to Anadolu at the Fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Türkiye, Omuraliev underlined the growing importance of the corridor, noting that it had previously been viewed mainly as an alternative route -- particularly before the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Middle East tensions.

He added that in the short term, the corridor is becoming more efficient, safer, shorter and cheaper.

The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, is a rapidly developing multimodal transport network -- combining rail and maritime links -- that connects China and Southeast Asia to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye.

Speaking about the role of the Organization of Turkic States, he underlined that the organization is not designed to resolve conflicts directly, but rather functions as a regional intergovernmental body focused on cooperation across multiple areas.

Describing the organization as unique, Omuraliev highlighted its foundation in shared history, culture, language, and heritage.

According to Omuraliev, the organization now operates across different areas, including foreign policy, tourism, agriculture, transport, and space.

Referring to the upcoming informal summit of the heads of the Organization of Turkic States to be held on May 15 in Turkestan, Omuraliev said the gathering has become an important platform for the leaders of Turkic states.