Last updated: May 29, 2026
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.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with South Caucasus.
Episode 486 | Recorded: November 17, 2025
Episode 486 | Recorded: November 17, 2025
Episode 483 | Recorded: November 3, 2025
Episode 483 | Recorded: November 3, 2025
Episode 482 | Recorded on October 30, 2025
Episode 482 | Recorded on October 30, 2025
A deep dive with Dr. Trita Parsi on whether Israel will strike Iran again, why June’s war left “unfinished business,” how much Israel depends on the United States, what Iran’s rapid-response playbook looks like after June, and how a wider fight could spill into the South Caucasus and affect Armenia. Recorded Oct 30, 2025.
Episode 481 | Recorded: October 29, 2025
Episode 481 | Recorded: October 29, 2025
Episode 476 | Recorded: September 28, 2025
Episode 476 | Recorded: September 28, 2025
Episode 474 | Recorded: September 22, 2025
Episode 474 | Recorded: September 22, 2025
Episode 471 | Recorded: September 8, 2025
Episode 471 | Recorded: September 8, 2025
Episode 469 | Recorded: September 4, 2025
Episode 469 | Recorded: September 4, 2025
Episode 467 | Recorded: September 1, 2025
Episode 467 | Recorded: September 1, 2025
Episode 466 | Recorded: August 28, 2025
Episode 466 | Recorded: August 28, 2025
In this episode of Conversations on Groong, renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs joins to discuss the U.S.-brokered “TRIPP” (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), also known as the Zangezur Corridor. The discussion covers the risks of foreign powers imposing corridors through Armenia, the muted response from Moscow, Tehran’s strong opposition, and what this means for regional security. Sachs stresses that Armenia should not look to distant powers like the United States for security or stability, but instead pursue prudent arrangements and economic cooperation with its immediate Read More
Episode 464 | Recorded: August 25, 2025
Episode 464 | Recorded: August 25, 2025
Episode 463 | Recorded: August 18, 2025
Episode 463 | Recorded: August 18, 2025
Episode 461 | Recorded: August 13, 2025
Episode 461 | Recorded: August 13, 2025
Episode 459 | Recorded: August 11, 2025
Episode 459 | Recorded: August 11, 2025
Episode 458 | Recorded: August 9, 2025
Episode 458 | Recorded: August 9, 2025
In this episode, former U.S. Army officer and military-political analyst Stanislav Krapivnik discusses the geopolitical fallout from the Trump-Pashinyan-Aliyev summit in Washington, which saw the announcement of a “peace” framework, the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, U.S. plans for a 99-year “Trump Corridor” across Armenia, and the dropping of Section 907 to allow arms sales to Azerbaijan. He examines Russia’s heavy focus on the Ukraine war at the expense of the South Caucasus, the loss of Russian leverage over Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the growing role of Turkey. Krapivnik warns of Read More
Episode 456 | Recorded: July 28, 2025
Episode 456 | Recorded: July 28, 2025
Episode 455 | Recorded: July 25, 2025
Episode 455 | Recorded: July 25, 2025
Episode 454 | Recorded: July 22, 2025
Episode 454 | Recorded: July 22, 2025
Episode 453 | Recorded: July 13, 2025
Episode 453 | Recorded: July 13, 2025
Episode 452 | Recorded: July 7, 2025
Episode 452 | Recorded: July 7, 2025
Episode 450 | Recorded: June 26, 2025
Episode 450 | Recorded: June 26, 2025
The 12-Day War. Where did Trump’s American 1st Go?
Episode 449 | Recorded: June 25, 2025
Episode 449 | Recorded: June 25, 2025
Episode 448 | Recorded: June 21, 2025
Episode 448 | Recorded: June 21, 2025
Episode 447 | Recorded: June 15, 2025
Episode 447 | Recorded: June 15, 2025
In this episode of Conversations on Groong, we speak with Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, to analyze the geopolitical fallout from Israel’s surprise military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Rising Lion. We explore how the attacks may sabotage U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, shift Russia’s strategic calculus, and destabilize the South Caucasus—particularly Armenia’s Syunik province. We also examine the implications for Russia-Iran relations, the Zangezur corridor, and Azerbaijan’s military posture. Finally, we discuss Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, recent Read More
Episode 445 | Recorded: June 9, 2025
Episode 445 | Recorded: June 9, 2025
Episode 443 | Recorded: June 3, 2025
Episode 443 | Recorded: June 3, 2025
Episode 442 | Recorded: June 2, 2025
Episode 442 | Recorded: June 2, 2025
Episode 441 | Recorded: May 28, 2025