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The Caspian Bottleneck: Why Cross-Caspian Projects Stall and What Could Unlock Them?

Blanka Benkő-Kovács
Blanka Benkő-Kovács

Founder - Political Advisor, International Security and Defence Policy Expert

January 20, 2026

The Caspian Sea, just like on the map, sits at the center of Eurasia's connectivity ambitions, yet it is more likely a valve rather than a bridge. In recent years, a number of Trans-Caspian projects have faced serious obstacles. But what exactly are these barriers, and what could unlock them to build a real bridge across the Caspian?

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The Caspian Sea, just like on the map, sits at the center of Eurasia's connectivity ambitions, yet it is more likely a valve rather than a bridge. In recent years, a number of Trans-Caspian projects have faced serious obstacles. But what exactly are these barriers, and what could unlock them to build a real bridge across the Caspian?

Topics

Caspian Sea
Infrastructure
Energy
Central Asia
Geopolitics
The Caspian Bottleneck: Why Cross-Caspian Projects Stall and What Could Unlock Them?