GEOECONOMICS OF THE SOUTHERN GAS CORRIDOR: AZERBAIJAN–ITALY COOPERATION AS A STRATEGIC MODEL FOR EUROPEAN ENERGY SECURITY, ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, AND LONG-TERM GEOPOLITICAL STABILITY

The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) represents a strategic geoeconomic initiative aimed at diversifying Europe’s energy supply and mitigating the continent’s reliance on single-source gas providers. Functioning as a multipipeline network, the SGC transports natural gas from Azerbaijan’s Caspian fields through Georgia and Turkey, ultimately reaching southeastern and western European markets, with Italy serving as a critical hub in this energy chain (IEA, 2021; Socor, 2018). The corridor embodies a broader geoeconomic logic, wherein energy infrastructure is leveraged as a tool for both economic integration and geopolitical influence, reflecting the increasing convergence of market mechanisms and strategic statecraft (Blackwill & Harris, 2016; Meunier, 2019).Anchored in Azerbaijan–Italy bilateral cooperation, the SGC exemplifies how collaborative energy diplomacy can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously: enhancing European energy security, facilitating regional economic integration, and promoting political stability across the Euro-Caspian space. By creating an alternative supply route that bypasses traditional energy chokepoints, the SGC reduces vulnerabilities associated with over-dependence on dominant suppliers and mitigates geopolitical risks in a volatile regional environment (Yafimava, 2019; Baev, 2016).This study employs a systematic literature review and comparative geoeconomic analysis, integrating perspectives from international political economy, energy security studies, and regional cooperation frameworks (Tranfield, Denyer, & Smart, 2003; Eisenhardt, 1989). Findings indicate that the SGC not only strengthens Europe’s energy diversification strategy but also reinforces the strategic positioning of transit and partner states, providing them with enhanced leverage in regional and multilateral decision-making arenas (Cornell, 2017; Delcour & Wolczuk, 2017). Furthermore, the corridor contributes to long-term geopolitical stability by supporting institutionalized cooperation, fostering economic interdependence, and promoting norms of transparency and regulatory alignment among participant states (Little, 2020; Edel, 2019).