author | Insight Turkey https://www.insightturkey.com/ author EN authorThis article explores the growing significance of connectivity in contemporary geopolitics, using the Development Road Project led by Türkiye and Iraq as a central case study. It argues that large-scale infrastructure initiatives are no longer confined to economic development agendas but have become key instruments of geopolitical competition and strategic influence. In this context, connectivity is conceptualized as a multidimensional framework through which states shape power by controlling trade routes, energy corridors, and logistical networks. The Development Road Project, designed to link the Basra Gulf to Europe via Iraq and Türkiye, exemplifies this emerging paradigm. Beyond establishing a new transportation corridor, the project has the potential to restructure regional trade flows, enhance the Middle East’s integration into global supply chains, and create alternative routes to existing maritime pathways. It may also contribute to Iraq’s economic diversification and reinforce Türkiye’s ambition to become a major logistics hub. However, the initiative unfolds within a complex environment marked by corridor competition and persistent security risks. Therefore, its success will depend not only on technical implementation but also on sustained political coordination and regional stability.https://www.insightturkey.com/author/bilgay-duman/the-geopolitics-of-connectivity-and-the-development-road-projecthttps://www.insightturkey.com/author/bilgay-duman/the-geopolitics-of-connectivity-and-the-development-road-projectTue, 31 Mar 2026 11:41:00 GMT