... volume of contracts for arms and military equipment [between New Delhi and Yerevan] is about USD 2 billion with a wide range of articles.” New Delhi is also keen on the North-South corridor, and here it is in need of close interaction with Russia and Iran, which causes certain phobias in the West. Meanwhile, Baku remains the largest trading partner of New Delhi. The Indian side exports USD 79.4 million worth of goods to the Caspian republic and imports USD 595 million worth of goods from Azerbaijan, which significantly
exceeds
the figures for Georgia and Armenia.
Thus, the Caucasus region is going through not only “Westernization” but also “Easternization.”
Poor prospects for integration
If we try to describe the architecture ...
... not seek additional support from the EU and Iran.
Thirdly, strengthening India's position in the South Caucasus will help to level out the regional power balance. Today, the presence of non-regional actors, such as Israel and Pakistan, on the side of Azerbaijan, which have confrontational or competitive relations with Iran, cement power imbalances. Therefore, if India's involvement in the region, as well as its rapprochement with Armenia, is brewing these imbalances, Iran may positively welcome this prospect.
Overall, India and Iran's interests in the South Caucasus are largely complementary, both in terms of ...
... economy that they started vigorously putting the project into life.
The ITC route is
7,200 km long
– from St. Petersburg to the Indian port of Mumbai (Bombay) – anticipating the operation of rail, sea and river transport. The North-South ITC involves the ... ... Olya, Makhachkala; Eastern – direct railroad connection through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan with access to the Iranian railroad network; and Western (Astrakhan – Makhachkala – Samur, and further on through Azerbaijan to Astara station). For the latter route to become operational, it is necessary to complete the railroad leg Resht ...
