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.
Monitors in Armenia | Russia-West Rivalry in South Caucasus | Armenia-Iran Relations | Israel-Lebanon Maritime Agreement | Lebanon Presidential Elections [EP171]
Posted on Sunday, Oct 23, 2022 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Diaspora, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, India, Lebanon, Turkey, Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, Genocide, NATO, China, Syria, Human Rights, Middle East, Georgia | Series: wir
Guests:
Topics:
- Monitors in Armenia
- Russia-West Rivalry in the South Caucasus
- Armenian-Iranian Relations
- Maritime Agreement between Israel and Lebanon
- State of Lebanonâs Presidential Election
Monitors in Armenia | Russia-West Rivalry in South Caucasus | Armenia-Iran Relations | Israel-Lebanon Maritime Agreement | Lebanon Presidential Elections [EP171]
Posted on Sunday, Oct 23, 2022 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Diaspora, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, India, Lebanon, Turkey, Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, Genocide, NATO, China, Syria, Human Rights, Middle East, GeorgiaGuests:
Topics:
- Monitors in Armenia
- Russia-West Rivalry in the South Caucasus
- Armenian-Iranian Relations
- Maritime Agreement between Israel and Lebanon
- State of Lebanonâs Presidential Election
Artsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, European Union, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Middle East | Series: wir
Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
- September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
- September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
- Developments in Geopolitics
- There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met
Artsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, European Union, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Middle EastArmenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
- September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
- September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
- Developments in Geopolitics
- There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met
Surmalu Blast | Foreign Relations | Resistance Movement | Ep #156 - Aug 21, 2022 [EP156]
Posted on Monday, Aug 22, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Artsakh, Georgia, Geopolitics, India, Turkey, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:44 Surmalu Blast
- 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
- 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
- 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
- 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
- 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
- 21:52 Foreign Relations
- 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
- 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
- 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
- 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
- 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
- 53:48 Resistance
Surmalu Blast | Foreign Relations | Resistance Movement | Ep #156 - Aug 21, 2022 [EP156]
Posted on Monday, Aug 22, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Artsakh, Georgia, Geopolitics, India, Turkey, Ukraine, Nagorno KarabakhArmenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 21, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:44 Surmalu Blast
- 01:44 What happened in Surmalu market?
- 07:41 Why did Pashinyan jump the gun to declare that it’s not terrorism?
- 08:45 Russian note of protest on anti-Russian sentiments in information sphere
- 12:55 A mayoral campaign in the midst of tragedy?
- 19:01 Policy response: ban fireworks?
- 21:52 Foreign Relations
- 21:52 Aliyev rejects Artsakh status
- 28:26 Aghavno/Berdzor handed over
- 41:50 Papikyan in Moscow
- 43:28 Iranian red lines, again
- 48:03 Checkpoints for Azerbaijan
- 53:48 Resistance
Developments in Regional Geopolitics and Censorship Laws | Ep #146 - July 10, 2022 [EP146]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Syria, India, Georgia, Israel, China, Economy, Ukraine, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Middle East | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
- 47:53 Watch your Internets!
- 55:58 Rants
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html
#armenian #news
Developments in Regional Geopolitics and Censorship Laws | Ep #146 - July 10, 2022 [EP146]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Syria, India, Georgia, Israel, China, Economy, Ukraine, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Middle EastGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
- 47:53 Watch your Internets!
- 55:58 Rants
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html
#armenian #news
OSCE MG | Aparan Murders | Vanetsyan Resigns | Jhangiryan Doesn’t | Ep #144 - Jun 26, 2022 [EP144]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 28, 2022 | Category: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Turkey, China, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 26, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:08 Who killed the OSCE Minsk Group?
- 21:36 Murders in Aparan
- 27:01 Arthur Vanetsyan Resigns from Parliament
- 38:51 Gagik Jhangiryan in the Line of Fire
- 44:39 Rants
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 144 | Recorded: Monday, June 27, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220626.html