Brigham McCown: Azerbaijan at center of Eurasia's shifting energy, transport flows

Azerbaijan is positioned at the heart of major transformations in Eurasia's energy and transport networks, the former president of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and senior fellow for US energy security initiatives, Brigham McCown, said at the 1st Azerbaijan–United States Think Tank Forum, Report informs.

McCown noted that Azerbaijan stands at the crossroads of several key historical processes - the restructuring of Eurasian energy flows, the development of alternative East–West routes, the global integration of digital, physical and energy infrastructure, and the accelerating interaction between hydrocarbon and clean energy systems.

He emphasized that very few countries in the world simultaneously serve as energy producers, transit states and strategic connectors between regions.

"Decisions made in Baku directly influence Europe's energy diversification, expand Central Asian countries' access to international markets, strengthen Türkiye's logistical role, and enhance the Caspian–Black Sea region's connectivity. This is not theory - this is operational reality," he said.

Turning to transport links, McCown stressed that the Middle Corridor passing through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan has already shifted from concept to reality.

"Azerbaijan is at the very center of this transformation - the Caspian Sea fleet and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway are key components of a diversified Eurasian logistics network," he added.