Old and new threats to security in the South Caucasus

George Tarkhan-Mouravi

Abstract


The paper discusses the factors influencing the state of (in)security in the South Caucasus, with special focus on the Russian factor. It is argued that the biggest security threat to the region is linked to the possibility of the resumption of military action over Nagorno Karabakh, something that may have repercussions throughout the region and possibly beyond. Differences in security-related patterns of the three South Caucasus republics are discussed as well as common problems that they share. Special attention is paid to the increasingly unpredictable situation in the contemporary geopolitical environment caused by developments in all of the key actors engaged with the region.

Keywords


South Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, geopolitics, security, conflicts, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abrahamyan E., Russia's Newest A2/AD Sphere: The South Caucasus? An air-defense deal with Armenia is part of a broader plan to thwart NATO in the Black Sea, “The National Interest”, June 19, 2016, http://nationalinterest.org/feature/russias-new-a2-ad-sphere-the-south-caucasus-16641

Abrahamyan E., The South Caucasus: United, and Divided, by NATO: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have different hopes for the Atlantic Alliance, “The National Interest”, June 9, 2016, http://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-south-caucasus-united-divided-by-nato-16534

Bochorishvili M.,. Die EU im geopolitischen Wettbewerb mit Russland: Konfliktfeld Georgien. Springer, 2015, http://www.springer.com/la/book/9783658093303

Caspersen N., Will there be peace in Nagorno-Karabakh? Two things stand in the way, “The Washington Post”, May 31, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/05/31/nagorno-karabakhs-frozen-conflict-has-two-big-obstacles-to-a-peaceful-solution/?utm_term=.808f7069524a

Grono M., Isolation of Post-Soviet Conflict Regions Narrows the Road to Peace, ICG, November 23, 2016,https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/isolation-post-soviet-conflict-regionsnarrows-

road-peace

Melvin N.J., E. Klimenko, Decreasing violence in the North Caucasus: Is an end to the regional conflict in sight? SIPRI, June 15, 2016, https://www.sipri.org/commentary/blog/2016/decreasing-violencenorth-caucasus-end-regional-conflict-sight

Melvin N.J., E. Klimenko, Shifting conflict and security dynamics in the Caucasus: The role of regional powers, SIPRI, June 1, 2016, https://www.sipri.org/commentary/blog/2016/shifting-conflict-andsecurity-dynamics-caucasus-role-regional-powers

Melvin N.J., Middle East conflict risks overspill into the Caucasus, SIPRI, March 4, 2016, https://www.sipri.org/commentary/blog/2016/middle-east-conflict-risks-overspill-caucasus

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. Conflict Tracker, Council on Foreign Relations; updated March 16, 2017,http://www.cfr.org/global/global-conflict-tracker/p32137#!/conflict/nagorno-karabakh-conflict

Nye J.S., Putin’s Calculus, http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/joseph-s--nye-asks-whetherrussia-s-short-term-gains-in-ukraine-will-be-worth-the-long-term-loss-of-soft-power

Roblin S., This Is the Arms Race from Hell (And Russia Is Adding Fuel to the Fire), “The National Interest”, November 21, 2016, http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-arms-race-hell-russia-adding-fuel-the-fire-18475

Valiev A., The Kremlin’s Security Strategy in the South Caucasus: Implications for Baku, “CACI Analyst”, March 7, 2017, http://cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-articles/item/13431-the-kremlinsecurity-strategy-in-the-south-caucasus-implications-for-baku.html




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/we.2016.2.2.155
Date of publication: 2017-06-20 11:55:54
Date of submission: 2017-06-20 11:08:11


Statistics


Total abstract view - 1419
Downloads (from 2020-06-17) - PDF - 0

Indicators



Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2017 George Tarkhan-Mouravi

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.