US urged to secure Caspian Sea trade corridor by backing Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan

Covering 143,000 square miles, the Caspian Sea has become a vital artery for the Middle Corridor, a rail-and-ferry network that moves goods from China through Central Asia to Europe while avoiding Russian and Iranian routes. Freight on the corridor rose 22 % and east-west transit jumped 55 % in the first eight months of the year, prompting investments from China, the European Union and the United States, including the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are strengthening naval forces and conducting joint drills such as Power of Unity-2026 to safeguard the waterway. Washington has eased some restrictions, suspending Section 907 and signing deals at the C5+1 summit, yet the Jackson-Vanik amendment and Section 907 remain legal obstacles. Analysts contend that repealing these relics and financing port upgrades would secure a strategic foothold for the US as Russia and Iran’s influence wanes.