In a world that is changing rapidly, where geopolitics shapes global trade flows as much as geography, the Middle and Southern Corridors constitute a new, evolving network of Eurasian connectivity. From Central Asia to the Eastern Mediterranean, these routes are redefining how goods, energy and data move between Europe and Asia, offering reliable alternatives to the overloaded or politically vulnerable routes of the North.
The Middle Corridor, the trans-Caspian route that links China to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, is now emerging as a resilient and politically more neutral option. The destabilisation of traditional northern routes after the war in Ukraine has highlighted the need for diversification. The Middle Corridor not only bypasses war zones, but also strengthens cooperation among regions that seek stability and development.
At the same time, the Southern Corridor functions as Europe’s energy artery. Centred on the Caspian region and the Middle East, it transports natural gas to the EU through the South Caucasus, TANAP and TAP pipelines, while expanding dynamically into clean energy through plans for electricity and hydrogen interconnections. It is no longer just an energy corridor, but a framework for deeper cooperation between Europe and its southern partners.
Within this new connectivity system, Cyprus plays a crucial role. Its geographical position at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and Africa makes it an indispensable pillar of the Southern Corridor. It serves as a secure base of operations, a telecommunications hub and a central component of the EuroAsia Interconnector, which links Israel, Cyprus and Greece to the European electricity grid. Cyprus’ contribution to Europe’s energy and digital security is decisive.
For Greece, these two corridors represent a unique opportunity for strategic upgrading. The ports of Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis and Heraklion are being transformed into multimodal hubs that connect the Caspian, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Mediterranean to the European market. Piraeus remains a key gateway for Asia into Europe, while Alexandroupolis is gaining increasing importance as an energy and transit hub.
Greece should not simply participate in this emerging Eurasian network; it should aim for its strategic integration as an indispensable and pivotal link. Its geopolitical position — at the western end of the Middle Corridor and at the centre of the Southern Corridor — not only allows this, it makes it imperative. The country has all the prerequisites to become the European pillar of a system that connects continents, markets and energy infrastructures.
The geography of Greece and Cyprus, once seen as a limitation, is now evolving into their greatest strategic asset. Together they form the south-eastern axis of a new connectivity map that integrates Europe with Asia and the Mediterranean. In a world of far-reaching shifts, Greece and Cyprus are not mere links in the chain; they are the indispensable pillars of the new Eurasian architecture.
In this emerging energy and geopolitical network, Greece must not confine itself to the role of a simple conduit. It must evolve into both a destination and a geopolitical hub, with multidimensional engagement in energy, transport, digital connectivity and diplomacy. Only in this way will it fully harness its position and capabilities on the new Eurasian map.