Region

South Caucasus

The South Caucasus – a region encompassing Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - is one of strategic importance, not only for adjacent countries, such as Turkiye, Russia, Iran and the Central Asian states, but also for neighbours such as the European Union and the GCC states, and globally for the United States, India, China, Pakistan and Japan.

commonspace.eu team brings decades of experience of working in the South Caucasus and we are pleased to share our insights with our loyal readers through the website, and the sister newsletter, Caucasus Concise.

Editor's choice
Opinion
Symbolism Meets Realpolitik in Armenia-Türkiye Normalization Efforts

Symbolism Meets Realpolitik in Armenia-Türkiye Normalization Efforts

The prospect of peace in the South Caucasus may finally be within reach. Following the high-profile meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House as facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump on 8 August, hopes are rising that Yerevan and Baku could soon sign a long-anticipated peace treaty. That breakthrough has already been welcomed internationally, sparking renewed movement on the Armenia–Türkiye track as well. Opening the Armenian-Türkiye border has long been a policy objective for successive governments in Yerevan.
Editor's choice
Opinion
What role for the EU in the post-Washington South Caucasus?

What role for the EU in the post-Washington South Caucasus?

The agreements reached in the US-mediated summit of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Washington on August 8 are poised to fundamentally reshape the region's future. Particularly, the deal concerning the Zangezur corridor – rebranded as the “Trump Route for Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) – holds significant geopolitical importance. If implemented, the TRIPP agreement would deal a severe blow to the regional standing of Russia and Iran. More importantly, it would pave the way for a strategic U.S. presence in this critical geography. This outcome represents a success that few would have predicted for the United States, especially for the Trump administration, given the region's notoriously complex and volatile geopolitics.

Filter archive

Publication date
Editor's choice
U.S. Department of State not sure whether it makes sense organizing meeting on Karabakh in the contest of UN General Assembly now after incident with Safarov
U.S. Department of State not sure whether it makes sense organizing meeting on Karabakh in the contest of UN General Assembly now after incident with Safarov

U.S. Department of State not sure whether it makes sense organizing meeting on Karabakh in the contest of UN General Assembly now after incident with Safarov

From the State Dept. Briefing on Clinton at APEC Summit: "As you know, we had this incident that we were quite unhappy about where an Azerbaijani who had been incarcerated in Hungary was recently released.
Editor's choice
European Parliament to discuss release of Ramil Safarov during its plenary session Sept 10-13
European Parliament to discuss release of Ramil Safarov during its plenary session Sept 10-13

European Parliament to discuss release of Ramil Safarov during its plenary session Sept 10-13

The European Parliament will discuss the release of Ramil Safarov during its Sept 10-13 plenary session in Strasbourg. According to the EU's official web-site, the European Parliament may adopt a resolution on the matter.
Editor's choice
Nagorno-Karabakh and Abkhazia committed to develop cooperation
Nagorno-Karabakh and Abkhazia committed to develop cooperation

Nagorno-Karabakh and Abkhazia committed to develop cooperation

Speaker of the National Assembly of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Ashot Gulyan met on Saturday with Vice President of Abkhazia Mikhail Logua, who was in Stepanakert for attending the inauguration of NKR President Bako Sahakyan.
Editor's choice
Nagorno-Karabakh President inaugurated
Nagorno-Karabakh President inaugurated

Nagorno-Karabakh President inaugurated

On 7 September at the Stepanakert Culture and Youth Palace NKR National Assembly held a special meeting dedicated to the Inauguration Ceremony of the NKR President.
Editor's choice
President of Armenia: The so called "diplomatic correctness" in this case is simply detrimental for the security of this region
President of Armenia: The so called "diplomatic correctness" in this case is simply detrimental for the security of this region

President of Armenia: The so called "diplomatic correctness" in this case is simply detrimental for the security of this region

I am glad to welcome you to the Presidential Palace, welcome you to Armenia. OSCE is a very important organization for Armenia not only because this Organization has in its framework several institutions - the Minsk Group, the High-level Planning Group, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Personal Representative - all of them dealing with the Nagorno Karabakh problem, but also because the OSCE principles and the comprehensive concept of security is fully shared by our country.
Editor's choice
NATO Secretary General: The most pressing regional challenge remains finding a solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
NATO Secretary General: The most pressing regional challenge remains finding a solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

NATO Secretary General: The most pressing regional challenge remains finding a solution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan has a complicated neighborhood. And the most pressing regional challenge remains finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said speaking at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA), NATO official website reports.
Editor's choice
Prime Minister of Turkey: Ankara stands for the opening of archives for investigation of the 1915 events
Prime Minister of Turkey: Ankara stands for the opening of archives for investigation of the 1915 events

Prime Minister of Turkey: Ankara stands for the opening of archives for investigation of the 1915 events

"Ankara stands for the opening of archives for investigation of the 1915 events," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said speaking at an international conference titled 'Arab Spring and Peace in the New Middle East: Muslim and Christian Perspectives' in Istanbul, TRT Haber TV channel reports.