Türkiye’s Middle Corridor and China’s BRI: Identification and Assessment

Akçay N., Changgang G.

Insight Turkey, vol.25, no.1, pp.63-74, 2023 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 25 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.25253/99.2023251.4
  • Journal Name: Insight Turkey
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, ABI/INFORM, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, vLex, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.63-74
  • Keywords: Belt and Road Initiative, Middle Corridor, Silk Road, Türkiye-China Relations
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: No

Abstract

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Türkiye’s Middle Corridor (MC) are two ambitious initiatives that foster trans-con-tinental integration. These two grand schemes have been developed independently of one another. Nonetheless, they have the common objective of connecting Europe and Asia as well as facilitating com-mercial, economic, political, and socio-cultural interactions between the two continents. While the MC is one of the most important com-ponents of the BRI, the alignment of these two projects will offer a range of benefits for Türkiye’s MC, especially in finding alternative financing sources. This article aims to examine the history, objectives, and phases of Türkiye's MC. In doing so, it harmonizes the BRI with the MC and examines the opportunities that the integration offers for the region, as well as its inherent risks and challenges. This research is also significant and worthwhile as it provides insights into the com-patibility of the BRI and the MC.