The full operational capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line has been hailed as a significant achievement of strategic cooperation between Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that this was stated by Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, during the official opening ceremony of the upgraded Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line.
The minister noted that the project was realized as a result of the shared vision and joint efforts of the three nations. Uraloglu expressed his gratitude to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the Georgian government, while also highly commending the contributions made by the Azerbaijani side to the project.
According to the minister, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway serves not only as an alternative transport route but also as a strategically significant railway hub and a secure transport corridor of international importance. He emphasized that in the context of global crises and shifting geopolitical conditions, the availability of alternative and reliable transport routes is of particular importance.
Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated that with the completion of restoration and construction works on the territory of Georgia, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will now operate at full capacity, playing a pivotal role in the development of the Middle Corridor. He added that this project, beyond being a successful example of regional cooperation, will contribute to the expansion of secure and reliable freight transportation between Europe and Asia.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, often referred to as the "Iron Silk Road," serves as a vital link in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). By connecting the railway networks of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, the project significantly reduces transit times for goods traveling between China and Europe, bypassing longer maritime routes and strengthening the economic integration of the participating countries.
