Bulgarian restrictions on Turkish heavy-goods trucks, introduced from the day Sofia joined the European Union, have prompted Türkiye to scout alternative freight routes across Eastern Europe, according to Hurriyet columnist Ertugrul Ozkok.
Intelligence reaching Ankara from Sofia suggests Germany plans to build a major logistics hub in Bulgaria, positioning the country as a dominant player in European road freight. Ozkok notes this directly threatens Türkiye, which operates the largest TIR fleet on the continent.
In response, Turkish carriers have mapped out what they are calling the Viking Corridor: trucks board ships at Istanbul's Pendik port or the northern port of Bartin, sail to Odessa or Ilyichevsk in Ukraine, then transfer to rail for onward movement to the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, from which ferry connections reach various European destinations.
The arrangement faces unresolved logistical hurdles, and Ukraine's transportation minister is expected to visit Ankara soon to work through them. Ozkok questions why Germany would risk damaging its substantial trade relationship with Türkiye to shield Bulgarian interests, calling the policy misguided.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2007, in its own words.