This study critically examines the implications of international transport corridor projects for Central Asian countries, focusing on the Western-backed Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA), the Chinese initiative “One Belt—One Road”, and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) supported by the Russian Federation, India, and Iran. The analysis underscores the risks associated with Western projects, highlighting a need for a more explicit commitment to substantial infrastructure investments and persistent contradictions among key investors and beneficiaries. While the Chinese initiative presents significant benefits such as transit participation, infrastructure development, and economic investments, it also carries risks, notably an increased debt burden and potential monopolization by Chinese corporations. The study emphasizes that Central Asian countries, though indirect beneficiaries of INSTC, may not be directly involved due to geographical constraints. Study findings advocate for Central Asian nations to balance foreign investments, promote economic integration, and safeguard political and economic sovereignty. The study underscores the region’s wealth of natural and human resources, emphasizing the potential for increased demand for goods and services with improved living standards, strategically positioning these countries in the evolving global economic landscape.

Alshareef, S. (2023). A contender state’s multiscalar mediation of transnational capital: the belt and road in the Middle East. New Political Economy, 29(1), 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563467.2023.2222673

Aoyama, R. (2016). “One Belt, One Road”: China’s New Global Strategy. Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies, 5(2), 3–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/24761028.2016.11869094

Bashir, M. F., MA, B., Qin, Y., et al. (2021). Evaluation of One Belt One Road publications: a bibliometric and literature review analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(28), 37016–37030. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14621-y

Dugin, A. (2014). Eurasian mission: An introduction to neo-Eurasianism. Arktos.

Emerson, M. (2014). Toward a Greater Eurasia. Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, 6(1), 35–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/0974910113511193

Fedorenko, R. V. (2019). Modern issues of development of the customs and logistics infrastructure of the international north-south transport corridor. In Sustainable Growth and Development of Economic Systems: Contradictions in the Era of Digitalization and Globalization. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 63–75.

Gater-Smith, P. (2018). The SCO’s Strategic Limitations: Situating the Persian Gulf and its American Security Umbrella between Intra-Asian Rivalry and Cooperation. Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, 12(4), 500–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/25765949.2018.1562596

Global Wealth Report. (2023). Available online: https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/global-wealth-report-2023-en.pdf (accessed on 22 June 2023).

Gorshkov T, Bagaturia G. (2001). TRACECA—Restoration of Silk Route. Japan Railway & Transport Review, 28, 50–55.

Huo, W., Zhang, W., & Chen, P. S.-L. (2018). Recent development of Chinese port cooperation strategies. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 26, 67–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2018.01.002

Kaczmarski, M., & Rodkiewicz, W. (2016). Russia’s Greater Eurasia and China’s New Silk Road: Adaptation instead of competition. OSW Commentary, 21.

Kardon, I. B., & Leutert, W. (2022). Pier competitor: China’s power position in global ports. International Security, 46(4), 9–47.

Kaw, M. A. (2019). Theorizing EU-TRACECA Relationship in Eurasian Context. Strategic Analysis, 43(5), 418–434. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2019.1665231

Keser, H. Y. (2015). Importance of Transport Corridors in Regional Development: The Case of TRACECA. Sosyoekonomi, 24(24). https://doi.org/10.17233/se.96735

Khan, Z., Khan, K. H., & Koch, H. (2023). Aggregating an economic model and GIS to explore trade potentials of India-Caspian countries and a way forward for INSTC. Research in Globalization, 7, 100154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2023.100154

Kryukova, E. (2020). Concept for the Developmen of the North-South International Transport Corridor. Vestnik Volgogradskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta. Ekonomika, 2, 141–147. https://doi.org/10.15688/ek.jvolsu.2020.2.13

Kuchins, A. C., Mankoff, J., & Backes, O. (2015). Central Asia in a reconnecting Eurasia. Available online: https://www.csis.Org/analysis/central-asia-reconnecting-eurasia (accessed on 18 June 2023).

Larson, D. W., & Shevchenko, A. (2010). Status Seekers: Chinese and Russian Responses to U.S. Primacy. International Security, 34(4), 63–95. https://doi.org/10.1162/isec.2010.34.4.63

Lewis, D. G. (2022). Geopolitical Imaginaries in Russian Foreign Policy: The Evolution of ‘Greater Eurasia.’ The European Union, Russia and the Post-Soviet Space, 70–95. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003081722-5

Lin, J. Y. (2022). China’s Belt and Road Initiative: The rationale and likely impacts of the new structural economics perspective. Journal of International Business Policy, 5(2), 259–265. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-022-00138-9

Lukin, A. (2021). The Russia–China entente and its future. International Politics, 58(3), 363–380. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-020-00251-7

Meijer, H. (2022). Awakening to China’s Rise: European Foreign and Security Policies toward the People’s Republic of China. Oxford University Press.

Mihr, A., & Weiffen, B. (2023). China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Curse or Blessing for Democracy in Eurasia? Securitization and Democracy in Eurasia, 245.

Molchanov, M. A. (2015). Eurasian regionalism: Ideas and practices. In: Power, politics and confrontation in Eurasia: Foreign policy in a contested region. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 135–157.

Ortiz, I., & Cummins, M. (2011). Global Inequality: Beyond the Bottom Billion—A Rapid Review of Income Distribution in 141 Countries. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1805046

Piri, B. (2023). China’s Foreign Policy Towards Post-Soviet Russia and Central Asia: A Neoclassical Realist Analysis [Master’s thesis] Middle East Technical University.

Shlykov, P. V. (2023). The State of Strategic Hedging: Turkey’s Foreign Policy and Relations with Russia. Russia in Global Affairs, 21(3), 134–158. https://doi.org/10.31278/1810-6374-2023-21-3-134-158

Tang, C., Qiu, P., & Dou, J. (2022). The impact of borders and distance on knowledge spillovers—Evidence from cross-regional scientific and technological collaboration. Technology in Society, 70, 102014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102014

Tumanishvili, G., Natriashvili, T., & Nadiradze, T. (2018). Perfection of Technical Characteristics of the Railway Transport System Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA). Transport Systems and Delivery of Cargo on East–West Routes, 303–368.

Usman, S. M. (2023). Different Approaches on Central Asia: Economic, Security, and Energy. Rowman & Littlefield.

Vasa, L., & Barkanyi, P. (2023). Geopolital and Geo-Economic Importance of the Middle Corridor: A Chompreshive Overview. Eurasian Journal of Economic and Business Studies, 2(67), 20–32. https://doi.org/10.47703/ejebs.v2i67.295

Vinokurov, E. Y., Ahunbaev, A., & Zaboev, A. I. (2022). International North–South Transport Corridor: Boosting Russia’s “pivot to the South” and Trans-Eurasian connectivity. Russian Journal of Economics, 8(2), 159–173. https://doi.org/10.32609/j.ruje.8.86617

World Development Report. (2023). Available online: https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2023 (accessed on 19 July 2023).

Yildirim, Z. (2012). U.S. Foreign Policy Towards Azerbaijan: From’ Alliance to’ Strategic Partnership. Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, 11(4), 1–15.