The Corridor War in the Middle East

Abstract

The Middle East is on the brink of a profound transformation, primarily driven by economic corridors. From China's Belt and Road Initiative to the Development Road and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, these projects facilitate not only the movement of goods but also the exchange of energy, information, and services across regions. However, while such corridors are seen as fostering economic prosperity and political unity, they often deepen divisions and exacerbate existing geopolitical tensions in the region. The central question of this article is how, and through what mechanisms, do economic corridors change the geopolitics of the Middle East? To answer, the analysis advances a new understanding of corridors as vehicles through which regional states leverage their geoeconomic influence to achieve their goals. Introducing the concept of corridor geopolitics, the article illuminates the consequences of these corridors for the regional order. It also explores the possibility that corridor wars between Middle Eastern countries will emerge from their competition over strategic control of these routes.