South Caucasus

The South Caucasus sits at the crossroads of Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the broader Middle East — a small region whose internal conflicts have consistently attracted the attention of great powers. The three states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia each navigate overlapping and often contradictory security relationships with Moscow, Washington, and Brussels, while managing unresolved territorial disputes and competing integration ambitions.

The 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war and Azerbaijan’s September 2023 offensive — which resulted in the ethnic cleansing of the entire Armenian population of Artsakh from Nagorno Karabakh — reshaped the regional order, accelerating Armenia’s pivot away from Russian security structures, deepening Azerbaijan’s strategic confidence, and leaving Georgia’s own geopolitical direction in flux following disputed elections and mass protests. The region has become a live testing ground for the limits of Russian influence, the reach of Western soft power, and the emerging role of powers like Turkey, Iran, India , and China.

Groong covers the South Caucasus comprehensively — not just Armenia’s domestic politics and security situation, but the regional dynamics that define the constraints and opportunities facing every state in the area. Episodes in this category examine bilateral relationships, multilateral formats, infrastructure corridors, and the geopolitical competition that makes the South Caucasus one of the most consequential small regions in Eurasian politics.

Benyamin Poghosyan - Peace or Capitulation? Armenia's Dilemma & Ukraine Shifts | Ep 423 - Mar 16, 2025 [EP423]

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Geopolitics, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, European Union, Ukraine, Israel, China, Middle East, Genocide | Series: wir

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Armenia-Azerbaijan “Treaty”: Concessions, secrecy, opposition backlash.
Preconditions for Peace: OSCE Minsk dissolution, constitutional changes.
Ukraine War Talks: Jeddah negotiations, UAV attacks, Trump-Putin call.
Witkoffâs Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Benyamin Poghosyan - Peace or Capitulation? Armenia's Dilemma & Ukraine Shifts | Ep 423 - Mar 16, 2025 [EP423]

Groong Links:

Guest:

Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

Armenia-Azerbaijan “Treaty”: Concessions, secrecy, opposition backlash.
Preconditions for Peace: OSCE Minsk dissolution, constitutional changes.
Ukraine War Talks: Jeddah negotiations, UAV attacks, Trump-Putin call.
Witkoffâs Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Hrant Mikaelian - Abkhazia Polls, Armenian Hostages in Baku, Yerevan Protests | Ep 421, Mar 2, 2025 [EP421]

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, China, Israel, Middle East | Series: wir

Groong Links:

Guest:

Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

Abkhaz Elections & Regional Implications â The second round of Abkhaziaâs presidential elections, the impact of mass protests, and what Badra Gunbaâs victory means for the region.
Armenian Hostages in Baku â Ongoing trials of Armenian POWs and former Artsakh leaders, reports of torture, and international calls for independent medical evaluations.
Protests in Yerevan Over POWs â Civil society and opposition-led demonstrations demanding stronger government action and international intervention.

Hrant Mikaelian - Abkhazia Polls, Armenian Hostages in Baku, Yerevan Protests | Ep 421, Mar 2, 2025 [EP421]

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, China, Israel, Middle East

Groong Links:

Guest:

Hrant Mikaelian

Topics:

Abkhaz Elections & Regional Implications â The second round of Abkhaziaâs presidential elections, the impact of mass protests, and what Badra Gunbaâs victory means for the region.
Armenian Hostages in Baku â Ongoing trials of Armenian POWs and former Artsakh leaders, reports of torture, and international calls for independent medical evaluations.
Protests in Yerevan Over POWs â Civil society and opposition-led demonstrations demanding stronger government action and international intervention.