Средний коридор без иллюзий. Где деньги, где политика? | Часть 1

In the first part of the conversation, we explore the Middle/Trans-Caspian Corridor without the hype: how much cargo can realistically flow through this route, why multimodality complicates logistics, whether there's significant money in transit, and why Azerbaijan should view the corridor not as a "cargo pipeline" but as a tool for economic competitiveness. We also discuss the role of the private sector, Georgian ports, the Zangezur Corridor, China's interest in overland routes, US influence on maritime trade, and the new geopolitical context surrounding China, Iran, and Hormuz. 00:00 Introduction: The Middle Corridor, Azerbaijan's Economy, and the Dollar 00:56 Why Part One Is Dedicated to the Middle Corridor 01:54 Media Image vs. the Reality of the Corridor 03:45 China, Europe, and 200 Million Containers a Year 04:41 Why Post-Soviet Logistics Isn't Containerized 06:32 The Main Difficulty of the Middle Corridor 08:27 Multimodality: Advantage or Problem 11:08 How Transshipment and Terminals Can Become a Resource 12:55 Why Competing with the Sea Route Is Difficult 13:50 What the Middle Corridor Should Bring to Azerbaijan 17:38 Are There Billions in Transit? 18:31 The Private Sector, Railroads, and Bottlenecks 22:12 State-Owned Companies, Efficiency, and a Million Containers 25:06 Why the Problem Isn't Just Azerbaijan's 27:03 Central Asia, Iran, Russia, and Alternative Routes 30:01 Georgia Kulevi, BTK, and the Black Sea Ports 31:57 The Zangezur Corridor and Dependence on Georgian Limits 33:47 Dry Ports, Tariffs, and the Fight for a Distant Client 35:36 The Corridor's Political Role in the New Global Game 37:25 Europe, China, and the Corridor as a Leverage 40:06 Why China Needs Overland Routes 41:57 The United States, Maritime Trade, and Parallels with the Opium Wars 46:26 A New Conflict Over China, Trade, and De-Dollarization 48:24 The Hormuz Crisis and the End of Part One