Eldaniz Gusseinov, Rymgali Abykayev
The transport and infrastructure initiatives of China and the European Union show signs of unfolding strategic competition in the Eurasian region. With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe and China have lost their shortest land trade route, while the importance of the Middle Corridor has increased. Currently, the parties are interested in establishing sustainable trade routes through Central Asia and the South Caucasus, but the tone of recent statements points to the need for constructive dialogue.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, during a speech at the Global Gateway Forum held on 25 and 26 October in Brussels, noted that the EU prioritises giving recipient countries better choices, as often the proposed investments carry a high price for them, sometimes even limiting their national sovereignty. Thus, many commentators felt that U. von der Leyen was making a veiled reference to the threats of cheap Chinese loans spreading under the Belt and Road Initiative, which requires recipient countries to hand over strategic facilities and sites to Chinese corporations.