ANALYTICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTEMPORARY SECURITY VISION IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION

Abstract

This article examines the evolving geopolitical and security dynamics of the South Caucasus within the context of contemporary regional transformations and the intensification of competition among regional and extra-regional actors. The study analyses the strategic significance of the South Caucasus as a communicative and geopolitical crossroads linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It pays particular attention to the shifting balance of power following the launch of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) project and the broader consequences of the Russo-Ukrainian war and the escalating conflict surrounding Iran. The article explores the security interests and foreign policy priorities of regional powers—namely Russia, Turkey, and Iran—as well as the strategic approaches of extra-regional actors such as the United States, the European Union, China, and India. It also examines contemporary security challenges affecting Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, including unresolved conflicts, communication projects, military-political alliances, and shifting regional security complexes. The research concludes that the South Caucasus is gradually becoming a strategic arena of multipolar competition, where communication routes, geopolitical sovereignty, and the regional balance of power take on decisive importance. The activation of extra-regional actors creates both new opportunities and new security risks for the states of the South Caucasus.