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For the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, where agriculture accounts for 60-90% of total water consumption, water security is no longer just a resource issue—it is a matter of economic resilience and political stability. During the Soviet era, water management in Central Asia and the South Caucasus was centralized under Moscow, which…
The 26 October Parliamentary elections in Georgia, quite as expected, turned out to be very divisive and controversial. While the voting outcome of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) was officially declared at the level of 53.9%, the opposition parties refused to recognise it, accusing the government of launching a large-scale fraud and intimidation campaign which…
Introduction After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the countries of the South Caucasus, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia were offered by Russia and the West (i.e. the European Union and the United States) two alternative integration platforms: On the one hand, the Russia-led regional integration projects, including the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and…
The Horn of Africa for years has been a hotbed of conflicts, but the events of the last year have increased the tensions in the region even more. In January an important issue emerged between Ethiopia and Somalia, when Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to rent 20 km of the coastline. One of the…
Executive Summary: The European Union is working with the countries along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (also known as the Middle Corridor) to support infrastructure development and provide technical assistance for improving standards, digitalization, and regional interoperability. Disruptions along the trans-Russia northern route due to Western sanctions against Russia and the unavailability of the trans-Iran southern…
Azerbaijan will host the United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) from November 11 to 22, 2024. The global event is expected to attract up to 100,000 participants, including heads of state and government from over 180 countries, to Baku, the capital of the South Caucasus republic. As the country presiding over the summit, Azerbaijan…
Over the past four years, mutual verbal exchanges and diplomatic tensions between Armenian and Russian officials have been accompanied by Yerevan’s attempts to shift closer to the West. Armenia’s efforts to establish closer ties with the Western world have created the image of a serious crisis in its relations with Russia. Armenia seeks to forge…
On 18 October, the 3+3 regional cooperation platform which hypothetically includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia “plus” three surrounding powers (Türkiye, Iran, and Russia) convened the third meeting at the ministerial level, though again without the participation of Georgia. Hosted by Türkiye in Istanbul, the meeting took place amidst a sensitive security situation in the wider…
With less than one month until the next UN climate conference, COP29, which will be held in Baku from 11 to 22 November, Azerbaijan is finalising the agenda. Hosting such a prestigious international conference for the first time in the region is a great responsibility, and COP29 initiatives demonstrate Azerbaijan’s focus on critical issues to tackle…
Executive Summary: Azerbaijan announced its application for BRICS membership on August 20, which has been backed by Russian leaders and emphasizes Azerbaijan’s goal of strengthening ties with China following the China-Azerbaijan joint strategic partnership declaration in July. The increased importance of the South Caucasus region and Azerbaijan’s potential membership in BRICS places it in a…
