Alternative corridors and routes in world commerce, in a world the place geopolitics and the routes intertwine, together with the emergence of latest commerce corridors resulting from melting polar ice brought on by local weather change, are anticipated, in keeping with the consultants.
Straits and channels considerably affect the strategic place of the international locations the place they’re positioned.
The Suez Canal, in addition to the later-built Panama and Nicaragua canals, have considerably shortened the distances ships journey in sea routes and diminished safety dangers.
In this regard, there are round 50 vital canals worldwide.
The Panama Canal has come into focus as a result of reducing of water ranges brought on by drought. Experts predict that the melting of ice within the polar areas sooner or later, just like the instance of the Panama Canal, may result in the emergence of latest commerce routes.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Turgut Kerem Tuncel, a senior analyst on the Center for Eurasian Studies, mentioned: “Of course, there’s additionally the problem of polar ice melting. Opening up transportation routes within the Arctic area may come to the agenda in the long run. In this regard, competitors has already begun between Russia, China, the U.S. and Scandinavian international locations.”
“Developing various commerce routes is vital for world commerce. From our personal geographical perspective, additional enhancing the performance of the Middle Corridor, which passes by Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye, connecting Asia and Europe overland, will probably be a major step for the sleek continuation of worldwide commerce,” he mentioned.
Tuncel acknowledged that if the Panama Canal turns into inoperative, the one various for maritime transportation could be the Drake Passage between the southern tip of Argentina and Antarctica or establishing a connection through land routes. However, he famous that transportation prices would improve in each eventualities.
Professor Şafak Ertan Çomaklı from Hacı Bayram Veli University’s Department of Finance additionally identified that the Panama Canal, located within the narrowest a part of the American continent, permits about 14,000 ships to transit between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans yearly, making it one of many world’s most acknowledged synthetic canals.
He emphasised that over the previous 150 years, canals have develop into giant initiatives serving the political and financial targets of funding international locations. Çomaklı talked about that the route known as the Middle Corridor, through which Türkiye can be included, is probably the most appropriate option to transport Chinese merchandise to Europe and the Middle East by land.
“The Kanal Istanbul Project, which is a part of this strategic route, goals to make Türkiye an vital logistics middle by supporting this hall. While the Suez Canal brings in over $6 billion yearly and the Panama Canal generates an annual commerce quantity of $2 billion, if constructed, Canal Istanbul’s anticipated annual income could be round $8 billion,” Çomaklı mentioned.
Between Asia and Europe, commerce and transportation are facilitated by three foremost corridors: the “Northern Corridor” involving Russia, the “Southern Corridor” passing by Iran, and the “Middle Corridor,” together with Türkiye.
The strategic significance of the historic Silk Road, particularly the Middle Corridor, ranging from Türkiye and reaching Central Asia and China through the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, is rising daily.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
