Tag: 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.
Philippe Raffi Kalfayan - Europe and America, JD Vance in Armenia, Pashinyan vs. Church | Ep 516, Feb 8, 2026 [EP516]
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, USA, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Syria
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- A European View of America
- JD Vance in Armenia
- Pashinyan vs. The Armenian Church
- Europe and Armenia
Episode 516 | Recorded: February 9, 2026
James Carden & Pietro Shakarian - Global Affairs in the Age of Trump 2.0 | Ep 515, Feb 7, 2026 [EP515]
Posted on Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 | Category: USA, TRIPP, Iran, Armenia, Israel, Azerbaijan | Series: cog, video
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Trump 2.0 and the âDonroe Doctrineâ
- Rules-Based Disorder?
- Iran vs. the âBig, Beautiful Armadaâ
- US Cohesion and Midterms
- JD Vance in the South Caucasus
Episode 515 | Recorded: February 6, 2026
James Carden & Pietro Shakarian - Global Affairs in the Age of Trump 2.0 | Ep 515, Feb 7, 2026 [EP515]
Posted on Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 | Category: USA, TRIPP, Iran, Armenia, Israel, AzerbaijanGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Trump 2.0 and the âDonroe Doctrineâ
- Rules-Based Disorder?
- Iran vs. the âBig, Beautiful Armadaâ
- US Cohesion and Midterms
- JD Vance in the South Caucasus
Episode 515 | Recorded: February 6, 2026
Arthur Khachatryan - Army Day, JD Vance to Armenia, TRIPP, Church, Strong Armenia Political Party | Ep 510, Jan 27, 2026 [EP510]
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Armenian Church | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Memorial Day vs. Army Day
- JD Vance to Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Armenian Church Developments
- Strong Armenia - New Political Party
Episode 510 | Recorded: Jnauary 27, 2026
Arthur Khachatryan - Army Day, JD Vance to Armenia, TRIPP, Church, Strong Armenia Political Party | Ep 510, Jan 27, 2026 [EP510]
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Armenian ChurchGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Memorial Day vs. Army Day
- JD Vance to Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Armenian Church Developments
- Strong Armenia - New Political Party
Episode 510 | Recorded: Jnauary 27, 2026
Sergei Melkonian - Syria, Iran Unrest, TRIPP, Armenian Parliamentary Elections | Ep 508, Jan 18, 2026 [EP508]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Syria, Iran, Israel, China, Geopolitics, Middle East | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Syria, Kurds, Turkish advance
- Iran Unrest, War Postponed
- TRIPP and sovereignty dispute
- 2026 Elections and Foreign Influence
Episode 508 | Recorded: January 19, 2026
#ArmenianNews #Syria #Iran #ZangezurCorridor #TRIPP #Geopolitics
Sergei Melkonian - Syria, Iran Unrest, TRIPP, Armenian Parliamentary Elections | Ep 508, Jan 18, 2026 [EP508]
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Syria, Iran, Israel, China, Geopolitics, Middle EastGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Syria, Kurds, Turkish advance
- Iran Unrest, War Postponed
- TRIPP and sovereignty dispute
- 2026 Elections and Foreign Influence
Episode 508 | Recorded: January 19, 2026
#ArmenianNews #Syria #Iran #ZangezurCorridor #TRIPP #Geopolitics
Arthur Martirosyan - Ukraine, Iran, Baku Pogroms, Church Clash | Ep 505, Jan 11, 2026 [EP505]
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Ukraine, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, USA, Armenian Genocide | Series: wir, video
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Ukraine warâs global cost to Russia
- Iran unrest and war risk
- Remembering the Baku pogroms
- Russia-Armenia tensions and media threats
- Pashinyanâs clash with Armenian Church
Episode 505 | Recorded: January 13, 2026
Arthur Martirosyan - Ukraine, Iran, Baku Pogroms, Church Clash | Ep 505, Jan 11, 2026 [EP505]
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Ukraine, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, USA, Armenian GenocideGroong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Ukraine warâs global cost to Russia
- Iran unrest and war risk
- Remembering the Baku pogroms
- Russia-Armenia tensions and media threats
- Pashinyanâs clash with Armenian Church
Episode 505 | Recorded: January 13, 2026