Istanbul: In recent years, Trkiye has pursued a multilateral foreign policy to diversify its development strategies, boost its economic and political influence, integrate into global supply chains, and deepen its Eurasian connections. The tangible outcomes of these efforts were highlighted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the Global Transportation Corridors Forum in Istanbul. He shared detailed figures: over $300 billion invested in transportation and communication infrastructure during his administration, including $177 billion for roads and $64 billion for railways, alongside notable investments in air, sea, and digital networks.
According to TRTworld.com, Trkiye’s current efforts reflect a strategic move to actively participate in this direction, ensuring it is part of the evolving global transportation networks. One of Trkiye’s most significant steps in this direction was joining China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) shortly after its launch in 2015. China introduced the BRI in 2013 as a key component of its diplomacy strategy: a comprehensive infrastructure and development solution addressing society’s fundamental disparities of unbalanced and inadequate development.
The BRI has brought together over 150 countries from various regions, cultures, and development levels, representing three-quarters of the world’s countries, two-thirds of the global population, and half of global GDP. The cumulative value of imports and exports among BRI partner countries exceeds $19 trillion. In 2024 alone, goods worth over $3 trillion were traded with BRI partners. Trkiye’s imports from China have significantly increased since the BRI began, reaching $44 billion in 2024. That year, foreign direct investment from China into Trkiye totaled $750 million. Over 1,200 Chinese companies currently operate in Trkiye.
Historically, Trkiye has played a bridge role due to its geostrategic location. However, it refuses to be reduced to this traditional role and now aims to become an investment and logistics hub and a major power in its region. The Middle Corridor, of which Trkiye is the only NATO member participant, is a strategic route connecting China to Europe via Central Asia and the Caucasus. Operating for nearly two decades, the Middle Corridor has been a network of overland and maritime routes stretching from China to Europe via Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Trkiye has embraced the Middle Corridor as a cornerstone of its Central Asia strategy, deepening ties with Turkic-speaking nations and enhancing its geopolitical influence. Roughly 2,200 kilometers of the Middle Corridor pass through Trkiye, supporting an annual trade volume of $75 billion. Positioning itself as a key transit hub, Trkiye continues to invest heavily in infrastructure and signed regional agreements to enhance the East-West connectivity.
Recent modeling reveals that the 90-day tariff pause and earlier tariff shock in the US-China trade war could disrupt global ocean freight. Given that most of global trade moves by sea, the Development Road Project emerges as a timely response to strengthen supply chain resilience. Aligned with the goal of a broader vision of connectivity and reducing transit times is the Development Road project. Scheduled for completion by 2030 with an investment of approximately $15 billion.
The Development Road project is intended to integrate seamlessly with the Middle Corridor. Once completed, sea freight from both China and Africa will be able to reach Europe via the southern route in approximately 25 days. Moreover, it should not only be considered as a flow of movement towards Europe. The largest oil importer today is China, and the corridor will make it possible to transport the energy there to China as well. Hence, it will reduce risks and dependency for the Gwadar Port.
In conclusion, the Development Road project supports not only regional infrastructure but also a multipolar global order. It offers a complementary and reinforcing route to the Middle Corridor, enhancing the security, speed, and diversity of intercontinental trade. By promoting development, it contributes to regional peace and prosperity, offering a compelling model for connectivity-driven diplomacy in the 21st century.