Who / What
The South Caucasus is a geographical region situated on the border of Eastern Europe and West Asia, straddling the southern Caucasus Mountains. It roughly corresponds to the modern countries of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, collectively sometimes referred to as the Caucasian States.
Background & History
The region has historically served as a crossroads between major empires including the Persian, Ottoman, and Russian empires. It became part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century before briefly forming the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic following the Russian Revolution. The area was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union as separate republics before gaining independence in 1991.
Why Notable
The South Caucasus is notable for its strategic location at the intersection of Europe and Asia, serving as an important energy transit corridor between the Caspian Sea and global markets. The region contains significant cultural diversity with ancient historical sites and multiple UNESCO World Heritage locations. It has been the site of ongoing geopolitical importance and ethnic conflicts including the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
In the News
The South Caucasus remains geopolitically significant due to ongoing regional conflicts and its role in international energy transportation projects. Recent developments include renewed tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh and the region's increasing importance in East-West transport corridors bypassing Russia.
