Trans-Caspian Pipelines Seen as Key to Unlock Central Asia's Energy Corridor

According to the authors, the Middle Corridor’s potential remains untapped because Kazakhstan’s oil and Turkmenistan’s gas lack a direct westward route. Four-fifths of Kazakh oil still travels via Russia to the Black Sea, and about 80% of Turkmen gas is bound for China under a monopolistic arrangement. Although Azerbaijan’s ports and pipelines, including Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, are largely idle, the Caspian Sea itself blocks further flow.

The piece cites the EU’s €12 billion Global Gateway pledge and urges Washington to supply investment, EXIM financing, and security guarantees to complete the missing trans-Caspian links. Failure to act could cement Russian and Iranian export monopolies, give China greater access, and weaken the broader “Greater Central Asia” vision, while also damaging U.S. credibility and the TRIPP agenda.