ANKARA, July 22 — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has described the Zangezur Corridor as a project with transformative potential, not just for Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey, but for the broader region as well. Speaking to reporters aboard his return flight from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Erdoğan emphasized the corridor’s geopolitical and economic significance.
“Turkey views this project as critically important from a geopolitical standpoint,” Erdoğan said. “The Zangezur Corridor will connect our region to others and breathe new life into regional trade. Our hope is that this route becomes a symbol of cooperation—not a source of conflict.”
According to Erdoğan, the corridor could spur economic integration and drive prosperity across the South Caucasus and beyond. He expressed confidence that regional powers are capable of resolving outstanding issues independently, without outside interference.
“President Ilham Aliyev attaches great importance to the Zangezur Corridor,” Erdoğan noted. “He is committed to launching it as soon as possible, not only to benefit Azerbaijan, but to advance the entire region.”
The Zangezur Corridor, initially proposed in the 2020 ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, would establish a direct land link between mainland Azerbaijan and its exclave of Nakhchivan via southern Armenia. Turkey, which borders Nakhchivan, has strongly backed the initiative, seeing it as a strategic opportunity to deepen connectivity between the Turkic world and Central Asia.
Critics, however, warn that the corridor’s success hinges on diplomatic compromise, infrastructure readiness, and trust between neighbors who only recently emerged from war. Armenia has voiced concerns about sovereignty and security, while Azerbaijan insists on an unimpeded route.
Despite these hurdles, Erdoğan’s statement signals Ankara’s continued push for the project—both as a diplomatic tool and a strategic investment in the region’s economic future.
