RUSI and RISS Hold Workshop on Russia’s Strategy in the South Caucasus

26 April 20243 Minute Read

On 25 April, RUSI and the Georgia-based Regional Institute for Security Services (RISS) held a workshop to examine how Russia's policies towards the South Caucasus have evolved in recent years.

Following opening remarks from the UK Ambassador to Georgia, H.E. Mark Clayton, experts from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia – alongside RUSI speakers and representatives from embassies and international organisations – explored the ways in which Russia’s strategic goals in the region have undergone significant change. They examined a number of potential causes, including conflicts in the region and challenges faced by the Euro-Atlantic community.

The participants also reflected on the uncertainty about the future trajectory of Russia's engagement in the region. They debated whether it signifies a weakening of Russia’s historic position in the South Caucasus or a recalibration of its policies to fit shifting regional dynamics and its own evolving foreign and security policy.

Commenting on the workshop, RISS’s Executive Director, Natia Seskuria said:

With Russia reevaluating its position in the geopolitics of the South Caucuses, there are clear opportunities for the West to strengthen its own engagement with this critical region. To varying degrees, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia are increasingly working to balance their relations with Russia and the West, providing an important opening for western democracies to step up their public diplomacy in the region.