BLUF
The author of this OpEd reports that Central Asian Republics (CAR)—Iran, China and India—have been exploring new trade routes for the past decade. However, the Russia–Ukraine conflict has acted as a catalyst to expedite the process.Summary
This article by Patial RC, writing for Eurasia Review, makes the following points:
- Moving shipping containers from China through Russia to the European Union had become vital to Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- Still, Russia's invasion of Ukraine—and the Western sanctions on Russia that followed—have forced China to search for alternative trade routes.
- The Chinese alternative is likely to be the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).
- TITR is a 6,500-kilometer network of roads, railroads, and ports stretching across Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Europe.
- India and Iran have activated a shorter route between Russia and India—which is also likely to benefit Central Asian countries.
References
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References from the Web:
- FEB 2022 Does Central Asia have Southern options for transport and trade?—The Hill
- MAY 2022 China and Uzbekistan: An Emerging Development Partnership?—The Diplomat
- JUN 2022 Russia-Ukraine War To Change Central Asia’s Trade And Transition–Analysis—Eurasia Review
