STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE MIDDLE CORRIDOR IN GEORGIA

The Middle Corridor is an important transit route between China and Europe, and its strategic importance is obvious for the countries along the corridor, as it is not only a transit bridge, but also a mechanism for economic diversification and stability in the face of geopolitical changes. The aim of the paper is to analyze the strategic opportunities, current situation, challenges and prospects of the Middle Corridor, to identify it as an attractive alternative to the Russian and Mediterranean routes, and to determine the economic and geopolitical significance of the existing project. It is also important to determine how the Middle Corridor can be made a competitive, fast and sustainable international transport route, mainly in the direction of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey.