Turkey as a Transport Hub: a Vision Strategy for Integrating Regional Infrastructures and Services

Abstract

Surrounded by seas on three sides, Turkey wants to connect different seas and coastal regions by land transport corridors. Moreover, Turkey pretends to connect the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and also Arctic Oceans by various transport corridors, which may referred to China, the EU, India and Russia accordingly. Thus, Turkey's transport strategy has 3 levels: national, regional and international. The research objective is to reveal Turkey's prospects of becoming a transport hub, to analyze Turkey's geographical location, the favorable circumstances and obstacles, the positions of the Turkish leadership and regional and extra-regional actors. We conclude that Turkey has glimmering chances to become a transport hub both in the West-East and North-South directions, and even in their various branches. Becoming a transport hub is very important from Turkey's point of view to be included in the top ten economically leading countries․ Likewise, it full compliances with Turkey's current ambitions։ Turkey is already a regional superpower with global ambitions, and in the long-term perspective it aspires to become a global player. The topic is actual for Armenia, as it directly refers on it․ The aspiration of Turkey to become a transport hub can also put Armenia on the world transport map, turning it into a transport hub as well, at least in the East-West (China-Europe) direction.

Keywords

• Transport hub
• Middle Corridor
• Armenia
• Turkey
• Russia
• EU