Strike near Nakhchivan raises fears of wider regional spillover in the South Caucasus
Tensions are rising in the South Caucasus after a reported strike near Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, fuelling fears that instability linke...
Georgia has launched its first modern dry port near Tbilisi, aiming to become a vital logistics and trade hub linking the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Georgia has taken a major step toward enhancing its role in regional trade and logistics with the official opening of the Tbilisi Dry Port – the first modern railway container and cargo terminal of its kind in the South Caucasus.
At the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze highlighted the strategic importance of the new facility, calling it a key addition to Georgia’s infrastructure that will boost trade flows across the Caucasus and Central Asia.
“This is a very important strategic facility that will play a key role in strengthening trade flows in the Caucasus and Central Asia,” Kobakhidze said. “It will further strengthen Georgia’s transit function and help transform our country into a regional hub.”
Key Facts:
• Location: 28.5 hectares near Tbilisi, with direct access to international highways, the national railway, and close proximity to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Tbilisi International Airport.
• Capacity: 100,000 containers annually in the first phase; up to 200,000 after full completion.
• Investment: $21 million for the first phase.
• Partners: Abu Dhabi Ports Group (UAE), Wilhelmsen Port Services (Norway), and Georgian company Inveko.
The port will not only serve Georgia’s key seaports – Poti, Batumi, and eventually Anaklia – but also function as a container hub for international shipping lines. It’s expected to significantly improve cargo movement, especially for shipments from China and the Far East via the Middle Corridor.
The project is being developed in three phases. With the first phase now complete and operational, the remaining work will continue to expand the port’s capacity and logistical capabilities.
“This dry port will raise Georgia’s position as a key connector in Eurasian trade routes,” Kobakhidze added, thanking all local and international partners involved in the project.
As regional trade grows in importance, Georgia’s investment in strategic infrastructure like the Tbilisi Dry Port signals its ambition to lead as a reliable transit and logistics center in the heart of the South Caucasus.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
Tensions are rising in the South Caucasus after a reported strike near Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, fuelling fears that instability linked to Iran could spill into the region, Dr. Erik Rudenskjold speaks to AnewZ.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
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