The Regional Studies Center (RSC) released an 11-page RSC Policy Report on 5 December 2025 written by RSC Fellow Ketevan Rokva, entitled “The Emergence of New Asia–Europe Corridors. Bypassing Russia and Diminishing Russia’s Regional Influence,” assessing the broader implications of developments in connectivity and corridors in Eurasia.
Abstract
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has triggered a profound geopolitical reconfiguration across the Black Sea region and the wider Europe-Asia space. Once considered inescapable to Europe-Asia connectivity, Russia has increasingly become more of a liability for global supply chains due to its military aggression, the resulting imposition of Western sanctions and persistent unreliability. This has catalyzed the development of alternative transit routes, most notably the planned Trans-Caspian “Middle Corridor,” which links Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Black Sea to Europe. By bypassing Russian-controlled infrastructure, this Middle Corridor reduces exposure to Moscow’s coercive leverage while offering more resilient pathways for trade, energy, and digital flows.
Ms. Ketevan Rokva holds a BA in Political Science from Tbilisi State University and has diverse experience working with a number of civil society organizations in Georgia, including the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), the Economic Policy Research center (EPRC) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).