Georgia has eliminated China from the competition to build its first deep-sea port on the Black Sea. The decision should be seen in the context of the geopolitical competition for the so-called "middle corridor" that will connect Asia to Europe through the Caucasus.
Russia’s failure to provide security or reliable partnership has led local leaders to seek alternatives. Moscow is losing the role of default arbiter, while Turkey, the EU, the United States, and increasingly China fill the space.
As the development of trade routes between the West and the East is in full swing, Iran and Turkey risk being overlooked due to their own policies, despite their strategic position between the two regions.
