Strategic Assessment: Central Asia Connectivity Outlook 2026

EPI has published a new strategic assessment examining the infrastructure, trade, and geopolitical dynamics shaping Central Asia through 2030.

The report maps the competing connectivity frameworks operating in the region — including China's Belt and Road Initiative, the EU's Global Gateway, and Russia's Eurasian Economic Union — and assesses their implications for regional sovereignty and development.

The assessment identifies key chokepoints and opportunities in Central Asian connectivity, with particular attention to the Trans-Caspian corridor and its potential as an alternative route linking Europe and Asia.