Middle Corridor for Vietnam: why Baku is emerging as a crucial hub

The 21st-century global stage increasingly sees alliances dictated not by historical ties but by pragmatic considerations. One such alliance is emerging at the intersection of Southeast Asia and the South Caucasus — between Vietnam and Azerbaijan, two countries separated by thousands of kilometers but united by strategic thinking and shared interests. Cooperation based on logistics, energy, and economic complementarity gradually takes on concrete outlines. This is not just a matter of exchanging delegations or signing protocols of intent, but a step towards creating a new framework for mutually beneficial relations in the vast region stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea.
On May 7-8, 2025, To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, visited Azerbaijan for a state visit, during which a Joint Statement on strategic partnership between the two countries was adopted. Thus, the Vietnamese-Azerbaijani relations were brought to a higher level.
As stated in the agreements, Baku and Hanoi have a significant potential for cooperation in trade, economics, culture, education, tourism, information and communication, energy (including renewable energy production), and the defense industry. The prospects for joint activities within international organizations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations, as well as the exchange of expertise in combating transnational and cybercrime, are promising. Furthermore, despite the geographical distance between the two countries, Azerbaijan and Vietnam are keen on exploring opportunities for cooperation in logistics and transport infrastructure development.
In particular, Vietnam is actively investigating the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, as it fits into its strategy to diversify trade routes and strengthen ties with Europe, Russia, Turkey, and Central Asia. By utilizing this route, Vietnam can reduce its reliance on sea routes, thereby mitigating its geopolitical risks and enhancing its integration into the Eurasian economic space. The benefits for the countries along the route are also significant - the development of the Middle Corridor, additional revenue, and an opportunity to establish new strategic partnerships and attract investment. In addition to Azerbaijan, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, accompanied by a high-level delegation, visited three more countries from May 5 to 12: Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Belarus. The geographical scope of these visits speaks for itself.
Vietnam is currently one of the fastest-growing Asian economies. Currently, the country is the largest exporter of clothing in Southeast Asia and the second largest exporter of electronics in the region, it also has great potential in agriculture (rice, seafood, tropical fruits, etc.), has large human resources and huge reserves of important rare earth metals (22 million tons and the second largest in the world after China). This makes it an attractive partner for many countries. According to many experts, Vietnam will soon become one of the key links in the global production chain of many high-tech corporations.
It is clear that Vietnam is seriously concerned about expanding its exports, thus, this requires new logistical capabilities. In no small way, Vietnam's plans were influenced by US President Donald Trump's trade war, which imposed a fairly high tariff on Vietnam. About 30% of Vietnam's foreign trade is with the US (the country's other largest trading partners are China, South Korea, and the EU). In such circumstances, even a maritime nation will inevitably reassess its foreign economic relationships and seek alternative overland routes.
The South Caucasus, and particularly Azerbaijan, which is the main hub of the Middle Corridor, has a high potential to become Vietnam's gateway to the markets of the Caucasus, Central Asia, Europe, and Russia. A partnership that is founded on such substantial economic advantages and, at the same time, unburdened by political obstacles, is destined to succeed.

Irina Khalturina

SR-CENTER.INFO