How and why "Transcaucasian Transsib" left Georgia out of work

12 September 2021 10

After many years of preparation, Tbilisi has begun construction of a new mountain tunnel 9 kilometers long and 15 meters in diameter, which should facilitate traffic along the Georgian Military Highway. Despite not the best financial situation, the country's authorities did not regret the sum of almost 400 million dollars for the implementation of this project and attracted the best foreign contractors. What prompted little Georgia to make such large-scale infrastructure investments?

The Georgian Military Highway (Daryal Pass) with a total length of 208 kilometers passes through the Main Caucasian Range and connects the Russian Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi. Its strategic importance can hardly be overestimated. From 3 to 4 thousand cars and trucks pass through it per day, therefore, a big problem is that the road is closed up to 100 days a year. The reason is the harsh climatic conditions and difficult mountainous terrain. In winter, avalanches are possible, and the road itself is covered with snow. It is believed that the construction of a mountain tunnel should significantly reduce travel time and secure travel, making it year-round.

According to the plans of the official Tbilisi, the new transport artery will become part of a single infrastructure complex of 5 tunnels, 5 bridges and a modern asphalt-concrete highway. After the opening of traffic through the tunnel in 2024, the travel time will be reduced by an hour, which will avoid "traffic jams" at checkpoints. In addition, an additional 5 km section to the Gudauri resort and a new tourist center will be built. Georgia chose China Railway Tunnel Group Co, Ltd (CRTG) as a contractor. The Chinese will use a special tunnel boring machine that ensures minimal vibration during installation and simultaneous lining of the tunnel walls. The construction is carried out with funds from a loan provided by the European and Asian banks for reconstruction and development. The investment amount is nearly $ 400 million.

This is all good, of course, but what exactly made Tbilisi take on such a large-scale infrastructure project? After all, the idea of construction has opponents in Georgia itself, who believe that Russia will be able to use the road and the tunnel for another invasion.

Echoes of War

The revitalization of official Tbilisi around the Georgian Military Highway is indeed connected with the war, but not so much with the Olympic one as with the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020. Recall that after the first Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Baku and Ankara closed their borders for Yerevan. As a result of the war between Russia and Georgia in 2008 and the declaration of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the railway communication between Russia and Armenia was cut off. Yerevan found itself de facto isolated, completely dependent on Tbilisi's goodwill in using the Georgian Military Highway and the Georgian seaports of Poti and Batumi. Also, Georgia was able to get the most out of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, becoming the main transit country of the Transcaucasus, through the territory of which roads and railways, oil and gas pipelines pass.

It was possible to cut this "South Caucasian knot" only by force during the second Nagorno-Karabakh war. With all the negative for Armenia, the defeat paradoxically gave Yerevan an opportunity to get out of the transport blockade. In accordance with the tripartite ceasefire agreements of November 9, 2020, it was decided to open the transport corridor Turkey - Nakhichevan - southern Armenia - Azerbaijan. At the same time, the new route should connect Russia and Armenia through Azerbaijani territory. As you can see, Georgia is no longer included in this transit scheme.

The plans of Moscow, Baku and Yerevan to open the "Transcaucasian Transsib" have caused great alarm in Tbilisi, and for good reason. Former President Mikheil Saakashvili even called Georgia "an amputated part of the South Caucasus." And there is really a lot of truth in this. Now it is Azerbaijan that is turning into the most important crossroads of international trade, Armenia will emerge from the forced transport blockade, and the geopolitical importance of Georgia will rapidly decrease. Tbilisi's plans to turn its country into the main transit hub for the transport of goods between Europe, Russia, India and Iran can be forgotten.

In this regard, the hasty start of the construction of a multi-kilometer mountain tunnel in order to improve its logistics capabilities looks like a real "convulsions" of the Georgian leadership. No, of course, no one will stop traveling along the Georgian Military Highway, but this country will lose its exclusive status of the main regional transit country. Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran will have a different alternative, which means that it will now be possible to talk with Tbilisi in a new way. You see, the tunnel will really come in handy for the operational transfer of the Russian military equipment. Joke.

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Petr Vladimirovich

+3

12 September 2021 19: 58

Today, every power, 6 acres, sticking to the border of the Russian Federation, imagines itself to be an awesome hub, without which we cannot live a day
But the independent beggar in this regard surpassed everyone
Bakht

0

13 September 2021 09: 19

A year ago, they wrote that the Turkey-Azerbaijan tandem unleashed a war. The goal was the penetration of Turkey into the South Caucasus and the ousting of Russia from there.
What has changed in the views of the author? It turns out that unblocking communications was the main goal. We must listen carefully to what the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Lavrov, says.

PS By the way, many people in Azerbaijan consider Lavrov an Armenian. His father's surname is Kalantaryan. This is an ancient Armenian princely family.
1. Kotsamosebe
  
  0
  
  13 September 2021 19: 33
  
  There would have been another political turmoil - and they would have been called a Jew, if necessary ..))
2. Petr Vladimirovich
  
  0
  
  14 September 2021 06: 52
  
  Dear Bakhtiyar! This railway was dismantled at a section of 90 km, located in the Senyuk region. Armenia plus a plot in the Azerbaijani regions, which until last year was controlled by the NKR. Azerbaijan has restored its site? Armenia is clearly not going due to its obvious uselessness
  1. Bakht
    
    +1
    
    14 September 2021 07: 36
    
    Immediately after the war, it was reported that the road was being restored on the Azerbaijani side. I don’t know what is happening on the Armenian side.
    Currently, the construction of highways and airports is underway. Fizuli Airport has already received the first aircraft in test mode.
    Armenia has two choices. Or to recognize the existing borders, abandon territorial claims to neighbors and develop. Or to remain in complete isolation and slide into poverty.
    1. Petr Vladimirovich
      
      0
      
      14 September 2021 12: 12
      
      If the railway was restored, it would certainly have sounded. If Azerbaijan does not do it in order to restore passenger traffic with Nakhichevan, then Armenia will definitely not do it. She is quite satisfied with road transit through Georgia plus the use of the port of Poti.
      Turkey has good road and railway communication Kars Tbilisi Baku.
      Why would they pull a branch to Nakhichevan
      In Iran, as part of the North South project, a railway is being built to Astara.
      That is, at present there is not a single country that would be interested in the restoration of the Transcaucasian trans-Siberian.
      1. Bakht
        
        +1
        
        14 September 2021 12: 33
        
        I said that Azerbaijan is building its own site. He cannot build on the territory of Armenia.
        Baku-Tbilisi-Kars suits these three countries. But only. But we are talking about the interest of Russia, which was voiced by Lavrov. Does the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars highway suit Russia? The route through Zangezur is beneficial to Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, Iran and Turkey. There should be an offshoot in the direction of Iran. In addition to the Armenian section, a Turkish section must also be built.
        So everyone is interested in communication. There is such a thing as "Pereslegin's transport theorem". Of course, S. Pereslegin is a famous dreamer. And his theorem was applied for a single state. But they began to interpret it broadly for polycentric state formations. In short, it looks like this - the development of transport opportunities increases the connectivity of territories. And transport opportunities must outpace the economic opportunities of the regions. Unblocking transport arteries is Russia's main demand and has quite definite political motives. This is apart from economic ones.
        One point is correctly indicated in the article. The transit of goods through Azerbaijan (partner of Russia) to Armenia (strategic ally and outpost of Russia) leaves Georgia (not a partner and not an ally of Russia) out of business. The question is - who benefits from it? I don’t think Lavrov and Putin don’t know this. And the limitation of Turkish influence is ensured by the control of this route by Russian border guards.
        
        I would like to say separately that this forecast is only for 4 years. For now, the Russian brigade is in Azerbaijan. I don't think anyone can predict events for a longer period. The centrifugal forces of Azerbaijan-Turkey are very strong. I can see that too. Turkey is the most important ally for us, and Russia is the most important partner. But I do not see the intention of the leadership of Azerbaijan to lie under any of them.
Marzhecki

0

14 September 2021 05: 02

Quote: Bakht
A year ago, they wrote that the Turkey-Azerbaijan tandem unleashed a war. The goal was the penetration of Turkey into the South Caucasus and the ousting of Russia from there.
What has changed in the views of the author? It turns out that unblocking communications was the main goal.

Nothing has changed at all in the views of the author. There is no contradiction in what was said then and now. The invasion of Turkey and the unblocking of communications do not contradict each other, but, on the contrary, are interrelated.
1. Bakht
  
  +1
  
  14 September 2021 07: 40
  
  I do not see the invasion of Turkey yet. Russian troops are currently on the territory of Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, many believe that there was a Russian invasion. I don’t think so, there is just such an opinion. Most of the population of Azerbaijan. So the invasion of Russia and the unblocking of communications are interrelated processes. You can say that.
  
  I believed that the tool of journalism is the word. Can you confirm your word "invasion"?
Gagik Ohanjanyan

0

13 December 2021 01: 25

And Stalin knew about Absolute Evil and Katekhon
The comment was deleted.