The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway and Its Geopolitical Importance in Terms of Turkey

Abstract

The subject of study is evaluated the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway and its the geopolitical impacts on Turkey. Among Azerbaijan and Turkey through Georgia was first discussed in 1993 about this railway Project, after that the Project implementation began in 2007 and construction began in 2008 on Turkey. Marmaray Project, which is one of the most other important part of the Iron Silk Road, completed in 2013. Thus, it was closed one more step for providing connect European and Asian railway networks. The total length of the railway is 838.6 km. This part of Turkey is 105 kilometer. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad project envisages construction of a 29 kilometer segment in Georgia and a 76 kilometer segment in Turkey. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway is an important part of New Iron Silk Road. Due to this railway, it connected to a new rail corridor from Caspian Sea to Europe via Turkey. In general framework is also that this railway line is one of the most important road in terms of passengers and freight carrying capacity between China and Europe countries. In this study is evaluated railway phenomenon as an important power in terms of politic, economic, historic and geography and highlighted development and historical of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway. In following, it is considered this railway line how to use as a geopolitics power by countries including Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway for Turkey.