South Caucasus

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.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with South Caucasus.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump, Aliyev, Pashinyan Meeting
  • Iranian Reaction
  • Russian Reaction

Episode 459 | Recorded: August 11, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump, Pashinyan, Aliyev DC Summit
  • Ukraine War and the Shifting World Order
  • Russia and the South Caucasus

Episode 458 | Recorded: August 9, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump, Pashinyan, Aliyev DC Summit
  • Ukraine War and the Shifting World Order
  • Russia and the South Caucasus

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

Guest:

Topics:

  • Corridor Logic
  • Crackdown Logic
  • IRI Poll
  • Russian-Azerbaijani Relations

Episode 456 | Recorded: July 28, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Corridor Logic
  • Crackdown Logic
  • IRI Poll
  • Russian-Azerbaijani Relations

Episode 456 | Recorded: July 28, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Artsakh Negotiations
  • Armenian Domestic Politics

Episode 455 | Recorded: July 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Artsakh Negotiations
  • Armenian Domestic Politics

Episode 455 | Recorded: July 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • EU Strategy in the South Caucasus
  • Attacks on the National Church
  • 2025 Local Election Politics

Episode 454 | Recorded: July 22, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • EU Strategy in the South Caucasus
  • Attacks on the National Church
  • 2025 Local Election Politics

Episode 454 | Recorded: July 22, 2025

Topics:

  • Pashinyan meets Aliyev in Abu Dhabi
  • Continued Persecution of Church and Opposition

Episode 453 | Recorded: July 13, 2025

Topics:

  • Pashinyan meets Aliyev in Abu Dhabi
  • Continued Persecution of Church and Opposition

Episode 453 | Recorded: July 13, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Constitution Day
  • Western Controlled Syunik?
  • What was Kallas Doing in Yerevan?
  • Russian-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Coup d’Etat? Or Coup d’Église?
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 452 | Recorded: July 7, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Constitution Day
  • Western Controlled Syunik?
  • What was Kallas Doing in Yerevan?
  • Russian-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Coup d’Etat? Or Coup d’Église?
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 452 | Recorded: July 7, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • The 12-Day War
  • Where did Trump’s American 1st Go?

Episode 450 | Recorded: June 26, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • The 12-Day War
  • Where did Trump’s American 1st Go?

Episode 450 | Recorded: June 26, 2025

The 12-Day War. Where did Trump’s American 1st Go?

Guest:

Topics:

  • Israel and Iran
  • Crackdown on the Opposition
  • Pashinyan in Istanbul
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 449 | Recorded: June 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Israel and Iran
  • Crackdown on the Opposition
  • Pashinyan in Istanbul
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 449 | Recorded: June 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Israel’s war on Iran and U.S. involvement
  • Risks of Iranian regime change or partition
  • Strategic dangers to Armenia

Episode 448 | Recorded: June 21, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Israel’s war on Iran and U.S. involvement
  • Risks of Iranian regime change or partition
  • Strategic dangers to Armenia

Episode 448 | Recorded: June 21, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Israel hits Iran, talks collapse
  • Armenia at risk if Iran weakens
  • Russia hardens stance on Ukraine

Episode 447 | Recorded: June 15, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Israel hits Iran, talks collapse
  • Armenia at risk if Iran weakens
  • Russia hardens stance on Ukraine

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

Guest:

  • Rananjay Anand , Co-Founder & President of the Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO.

Topics:

  • Operation Sindoor
  • Indians Boycott Turkey & Azerbaijan
  • Armenia as a Robus Partner

Episode 445 | Recorded: June 9, 2025

Guest:

  • Rananjay Anand , Co-Founder & President of the Indo-Armenian Friendship NGO.

Topics:

  • Operation Sindoor
  • Indians Boycott Turkey & Azerbaijan
  • Armenia as a Robus Partner

Episode 445 | Recorded: June 9, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan Axis
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Armenia As a Strategic Partner
  • West Asia and Eurasia Context
  • Future Outlook

Episode 443 | Recorded: June 3, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan Axis
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Armenia As a Strategic Partner
  • West Asia and Eurasia Context
  • Future Outlook

Episode 443 | Recorded: June 3, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Status of Ukraine and US-Iran Crises
  • Hakan Fidan in Moscow
  • Erdogan, Aliyev, Sharif in Lachin
  • Azerbaijan and Pashinyan Attack the Armenian Church
  • Impeachment vs. Elections
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 442 | Recorded: June 2, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Status of Ukraine and US-Iran Crises
  • Hakan Fidan in Moscow
  • Erdogan, Aliyev, Sharif in Lachin
  • Azerbaijan and Pashinyan Attack the Armenian Church
  • Impeachment vs. Elections
  • The Kitchen Sink

Episode 442 | Recorded: June 2, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 28, Republic Day
  • Armenia’s EU-Russia policy confusion
  • Constitutional changes for “peace”
  • Impeachment vs. election dilemma
  • Azeri invasion threat and silence

Episode 441 | Recorded: May 28, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • May 28, Republic Day
  • Armenia’s EU-Russia policy confusion
  • Constitutional changes for “peace”
  • Impeachment vs. election dilemma
  • Azeri invasion threat and silence

Episode 441 | Recorded: May 28, 2025

Guest:

  • Levon Zourabian , Vice-President of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party of Armenia.

Topics:

  • US-Iran Nuclear Talks
  • Russia and Ukraine
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Armenian Elections in 2026

Episode 439 | Recorded: May 23, 2025

Guest:

  • Levon Zourabian , Vice-President of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party of Armenia.

Topics:

  • US-Iran Nuclear Talks
  • Russia and Ukraine
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Armenian Elections in 2026

Episode 439 | Recorded: May 23, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US-Iran Nuclear Talks
  • Pezeshkian Visit to Baku
  • Iran-Armenia Relations
  • US Support for Azerbaijan

Episode 437 | Recorded: May 16, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US-Iran Nuclear Talks
  • Pezeshkian Visit to Baku
  • Iran-Armenia Relations
  • US Support for Azerbaijan

Episode 437 | Recorded: May 16, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran Sanctions Escalate Amid Tensions
  • Journalist Beaten Inside Yerevan Office
  • Moscow Celebrates Victory Day Parade
  • Armenia Caught Between EU and Russia

Episode 434 | Recorded: May 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran Sanctions Escalate Amid Tensions
  • Journalist Beaten Inside Yerevan Office
  • Moscow Celebrates Victory Day Parade
  • Armenia Caught Between EU and Russia

Episode 434 | Recorded: May 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • What happened to Antiwar Voices
  • Color Revolutions as US Strategy
  • Armenia and Pipeline Geopolitics
  • And more!

Episode 433 | Recorded: May 2, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • What happened to Antiwar Voices
  • Color Revolutions as US Strategy
  • Armenia and Pipeline Geopolitics
  • And more!

Episode 433 | Recorded: May 2, 2025

What happened to Antiwar Voices. Color Revolutions as US Strategy. Armenia and Pipeline Geopolitics. And more!

Guest:

Topics:

  • Genocide Recognition and State Silence
  • Iran-Azerbaijan Talks & Geopolitical Shifts
  • Bandar Abbas: Explosion, or Warning?

Episode 432 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Genocide Recognition and State Silence
  • Iran-Azerbaijan Talks & Geopolitical Shifts
  • Bandar Abbas: Explosion, or Warning?

Episode 432 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • U.S. Tariff Wars
  • Target: Iran
  • The Global South
  • The Belt and Road Initiative

Episode 427 | Recorded: April 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • U.S. Tariff Wars
  • Target: Iran
  • The Global South
  • The Belt and Road Initiative

Episode 427 | Recorded: April 6, 2025

In this Conversations on Groong episode, we speak with Professor Warwick Powell about the tectonic shifts in global trade, economics, and geopolitics. From Washington’s renewed tariff wars to China’s expanding influence through BRICS and infrastructure initiatives like the BRI, Powell shares his insights on the emerging multipolar order and the declining dominance of the U.S.-centric financial system.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump’s Iran ultimatum explored
  • Turkey’s protests seen as strategic
  • Azerbaijan’s peace deal as smokescreen
  • Armenia’s Westward drift analyzed
  • Gyumri elections stir controversy

Episode 424 | Recorded: March 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump’s Iran ultimatum explored
  • Turkey’s protests seen as strategic
  • Azerbaijan’s peace deal as smokescreen
  • Armenia’s Westward drift analyzed
  • Gyumri elections stir controversy

Episode 424 | Recorded: March 25, 2025

Guest:

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.
  • Witkoff’s Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Guest:

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.
  • Witkoff’s Baku Stop: Mysterious visit raising geopolitical questions.

Episode 423 | Recorded: March 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

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

Guest:

Topics:

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

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Foreign Policy Under Trump
  • Transactional Foreign Policy
  • Trump’s Cabinet & Policy Shifts
  • US-Armenia Relations

Episode 420 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Foreign Policy Under Trump
  • Transactional Foreign Policy
  • Trump’s Cabinet & Policy Shifts
  • US-Armenia Relations

Episode 420 | Recorded: February 27, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • TBD

Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • TBD

Episode 417 | Recorded: February 12, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • World Politics
  • Plan, or No Plan?
  • Corridor Talk
  • Domestic Politics

Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • World Politics
  • Plan, or No Plan?
  • Corridor Talk
  • Domestic Politics

Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • A New Détente?
  • The Trump-Putin Call
  • Russia’s Strategic Choices
  • Russo-Armenian Relations
  • Russo-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Georgia’s Pragmatism

Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • A New Détente?
  • The Trump-Putin Call
  • Russia’s Strategic Choices
  • Russo-Armenian Relations
  • Russo-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Georgia’s Pragmatism

Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025