On 8 September 2026, INSS Distinguished Fellow Jeffrey Mankoff gave a presentation titled “The Middle Corridor: Prospects, Obstacles, and the Way Ahead” at the conference Security and Prosperity in the South Caucasus. Held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the conference was sponsored by the Center for the Analysis of International Affairs (AIR Center), under the Office of the President of Azerbaijan, and the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Dr. Mankoff’s presentation focused on the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on transcontinental trade and transit across Eurasia. He emphasized that while the isolation of Russia and Iran was creating new opportunities to expand trans-Caspian infrastructure and trade linkages, states in the South Caucasus and Central Asia need to do more to remove barriers and make a convincing business case for new infrastructure investment. The current window of opportunity could close quickly if a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war reduces the political risks companies face when transporting goods through Russia to Europe.