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<p>This article examines the evolving approaches of the European Union (EU) and China toward the Middle Corridor (MC), an emerging strategic route in Eurasia. While the Russia-Ukraine war has been the primary catalyst for this shift, a central puzzle emerges: is the heightened focus on the MC a temporary reaction or a durable, long-term realignment of Eurasian connectivity? The motivations for each power are distinct yet complementary. The EU is driven by the need to enhance its energy security and curb Russian influence, while China seeks to secure its transport corridors and diversify trade routes away from potential chokepoints. This paper argues that these changes are not a temporary response to the war. On the contrary, we contend that the convergence of interests on the MC represents a fundamental and long-term shift in Eurasian connectivity. This trend is further solidified by looming geopolitical uncertainties, such as the prospect of a “Reverse Nixon” strategy under a second Trump administration, which would increase vulnerabilities for both Brussels and Beijing. Ultimately, the new politics surrounding the Middle Corridor will have far-reaching geo-economic and geopolitical implications for the entire continent.</p>

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The interplay between geopolitics and connectivity: making sense of the EU and China’s shifting approaches to the Middle Corridor

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月9日

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  • Shaohua Yan,
  • Yinghao He,
  • Wei Shen

摘要

This article examines the evolving approaches of the European Union (EU) and China toward the Middle Corridor (MC), an emerging strategic route in Eurasia. While the Russia-Ukraine war has been the primary catalyst for this shift, a central puzzle emerges: is the heightened focus on the MC a temporary reaction or a durable, long-term realignment of Eurasian connectivity? The motivations for each power are distinct yet complementary. The EU is driven by the need to enhance its energy security and curb Russian influence, while China seeks to secure its transport corridors and diversify trade routes away from potential chokepoints. This paper argues that these changes are not a temporary response to the war. On the contrary, we contend that the convergence of interests on the MC represents a fundamental and long-term shift in Eurasian connectivity. This trend is further solidified by looming geopolitical uncertainties, such as the prospect of a “Reverse Nixon” strategy under a second Trump administration, which would increase vulnerabilities for both Brussels and Beijing. Ultimately, the new politics surrounding the Middle Corridor will have far-reaching geo-economic and geopolitical implications for the entire continent.