Corridor 8 is increasingly seen as a vital logistics route on NATO’s southern flank, linking the Adriatic and Black Seas, as global geopolitical dynamics shift.
According to security experts cited by Deutsche Welle (DW), the construction of Corridor 8 could become crucial for NATO and its European allies if the United States reduces its military presence at the Greek port of Alexandroupolis. While Washington has denied such plans, the issue is under intense analysis, placing renewed focus on the corridor’s development in North Macedonia.
Experts suggest that in the event of a conflict, Corridor 8 would serve as a key transit route for troops moving from Italian ports.
“This is a critical logistical artery for NATO’s southern wing, connecting the Adriatic and the Black Sea. Its strategic importance in the current geopolitical climate is immense,” Bulgarian Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). He added that Bulgaria is actively working on its section of the corridor, including a 2.4-kilometer railway link from Gyueshevo to the North Macedonian border, funded under the “Transport Connectivity” program.
EU to Address Cross-Border Hurdles
In January, the Bulgarian government submitted a draft agreement to North Macedonia for the construction and operation of a cross-border railway tunnel along the corridor. Speaking at a Bulgarian-Greek business forum in Sofia, Karadjov emphasized Greece as Bulgaria’s most valued economic partner, but noted insufficient cooperation from North Macedonia.
“Our priority is to further develop Bulgarian seaports in Varna and Burgas, which are positioned along the western corridor for freight transport between Asia and Europe. Here, we share common goals with Greece, and I am working closely with my Greek counterpart on Corridor 8,” Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) quoted Karadjov as saying. However, he lamented the lack of coordination with North Macedonia.
“With the support of the European Commission, we hope to overcome the remaining obstacles, allowing passengers, goods, and capital to move freely in all four directions,” he added.
Karadjov also underscored the role of infrastructure in enhancing collective defense capabilities.
“We live in times of global shifts that require us to be more cautious and strategic—not only in economic cooperation but also in defense coordination. This makes Bulgaria-Greece cooperation along the ‘North-South’ axis and Corridor 8’s ‘West-East’ route even more critical,” he said.
U.S. Dismisses Alexandroupolis Base Closure Reports
Former U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed media reports suggesting that the U.S. military plans to cease operations at facilities in Alexandroupolis due to the potential end of the war in Ukraine.
During a press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump denied claims from a Greek newspaper that the U.S. intends to “shut down its military base” in Alexandroupolis.
“That is not accurate information,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials clarified that the country does not maintain a military base in Alexandroupolis.
“This is a Greek facility that the U.S. accesses under a defense cooperation agreement. It serves as a transit hub for American military equipment moving to and from Europe. It is not a U.S. base,” an American military official told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.
A State Department representative told Breitbart that the U.S. uses Greek infrastructure at the port as a logistical center for troop and equipment movements in Europe. The Greek daily Kathimerini noted that since the start of the Ukraine war, Alexandroupolis has become a strategic hub for NATO, functioning as a critical supply route for troops deployed in Eastern Europe under a five-year U.S.-Greece defense agreement signed in May 2022.
NATO Infrastructure Development
Despite Washington’s denials, discussions over Corridor 8’s importance continue.
“More telling is the statement from NATO’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Force Planning in Naples, Major General James Clarke, who revealed he traveled to Bulgaria via North Macedonia for a military exercise,” BNR reported.
Asked whether he discussed NATO’s operational needs with Macedonian defense officials, Clarke avoided specifics but stressed that building military infrastructure is the responsibility of NATO member states.
“I won’t go into details about our strategic needs, as adversaries could exploit that information. The deployment of forces and the speed of mobilization depend on operational requirements. For example, transporting large military assets and personnel is often best done by sea or rail. But the key takeaway from this exercise is NATO’s ability to respond swiftly in a crisis,” Clarke said.
Alternative Routes and Bypassing North Macedonia
While Corridor 8 (West-East) traverses North Macedonia towards Bulgaria, Sofia is advancing plans for an alternative North-South corridor that could rival Corridor 10—Athens-Skopje-Belgrade-Budapest-Vienna—which, along with Corridor 8, positions North Macedonia as a strategic transit hub.
At the recent Sofia Economic Forum, officials announced plans for a new North-South corridor, with Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania presenting a trilateral proposal to the European Commission.
The initiative aims to accelerate infrastructure links from Thessaloniki to Vidin, connecting Southern Europe with Central and Western Europe. Karadjov described it as a “short and secure route from Athens to Helsinki.” The project aligns with Bulgaria and Romania’s entry into the Schengen Zone and their goal of capturing a larger share of freight traffic moving to and from Central Europe. /BV
