Latest Articles about South Caucasus
During Past 15 Months, Russians Register Over 21,000 Enterprises in Georgia
On July 25, influential nongovernmental organization (NGO) Transparency International published a new report on Russian citizens’ recent activities in Georgia. According to the document, since February 24, 2022, after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian citizens have registered 21,326 enterprises of various... MORE
Geopolitical Surprise in the Caucasus: Georgia Declares a Strategic Partnership With China
The visit of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to China, which took place at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping from July 26 to August 1, produced a true geopolitical surprise. On July 31, the Georgian government released a joint statement establishing a “strategic... MORE
When Will Western Naval Powers Return to the Black Sea and on What Conditions? (Part One)
Western naval powers have been shut out of the Black Sea until further notice. This is an extraordinary situation, exceedingly rare in modern history. No warship from a non-riparian country has entered the Black Sea since December 2021. And no naval exercise with Western participation has... MORE
Turkey’s Ambitious Bid to Diversify Natural Gas Sources and Reduce Dependency on Russia
Ankara’s recent announcement in June 2023 on reducing Turkey’s heavy dependence on Russian gas has sent shockwaves through regional energy sectors. Berris Ekinci, acting general director of the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s Energy Department, made this groundbreaking statement during an energy security conference held in Washington.... MORE
Regional Ties Deepening Between Central Asia and South Caucasus
On June 23, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia established a joint logistics company to improve cargo transportation between Central Asia and the South Caucasus in both directions (Bm.ge, June 23). More recently, on July 17, Uzbekistan Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov paid a visit to Georgia where... MORE
Ukrainian Trade Blockade: Foretaste of Russian Hegemony in Black Sea (Part Three)
*Read Part One. *Read Part Two. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) summit in Vilnius on July 11 and 12 upgraded the old NATO-Ukraine Commission to a NATO-Ukraine Council, which allows Ukraine to call for consultations during crisis situations (see EDM, July 13, 17, 19).... MORE
Ukrainian Trade Blockade: Foretaste of Russian Hegemony in the Black Sea (Part Two)
*Read Part One. Russia has turned much of the Black Sea into another theater of protracted conflict, adding a sizeable maritime dimension to the land dimension. This conflict at sea reproduces some key features of the preexisting, Russian-initiated protracted conflicts on land around the Black... MORE
Russia Stresses Its ‘Red Lines’ as Armenia and Azerbaijan Continue Peace Negotiations
On July 15, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met for the sixth time in Brussels via the mediation of European Council President Charles Michel to discuss the normalization of their bilateral relationship. The meeting took place, as Michel pointed out... MORE
Trade and Geopolitics in and Around Kazakhstan
On June 20, after meeting with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced Germany’s recent endorsement of Kazakhstan’s efforts to create alternative trade routes and transport corridors to Europe while bypassing Russia. Steinmeier declared that such measures would further prevent the Kremlin’s... MORE
NATO’s Indecision on Eastward Expansion Is a Window of Opportunity for Russia
At the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Vilnius on July 11 and 12, Georgia remained an outsider. Back in 2002, Tbilisi had declared its willingness to join the alliance, and, in 2008, together with Ukraine, Georgia received a promise of future membership. After... MORE