After 1991, the Goals of Russia in the South Caucasus

This study explores Russia’s strategic objectives in the South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia) following the collapse of the Soviet Union. South Caucasus has an important strategic location during the Soviet Union; it was considered Russian states till 1991. After the independence, Russia lost formal political authority over the region, but it did not diminish Moscow’s perception of the region as a vital part of its “near abroad,” which is critical to secure its role in the region as guarantor of energy security, access to warm waters, and control of energy corridors. This research highlights how Moscow has sought to maintain monopoly dominance from direct involvement to a strategic influence. Additionally, the fact that regional disputes have remained unresolved demonstrate the weakness of Russia and may attract the attention of Western countries to the region. On contrary, it is worth mentioning that by stationing military bases in Armenia (as a formal member of Collective Security Treaty Organization) and peacekeeping roles in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia wants to prevent the newly independent states from aligning with the West or joining NATO. The study provides a meaningful insight into the strategic importance of the South Caucasus in international relations and that the United States is intended to unite the countries of this region to get rid of Russian historical influence and, on the other hand, to gain interest from the resources of this region in a way that Iran and Russia have no interests in.