The Caucasus is a mountainous area in the border between Europe and Asia and it is historically important in the political sphere because it is situated in a strategic location between two continents, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and in the economy sphere because of its important natural resources. It has always been a hot zone, but the Soviet dissolution resulted in the origin of numerous new actors, both independent nations and separatist regions: the three southern countries (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) are republics but the northern regions are still part of Russian Federation .
The geopolitical situation in the last
twenty years has been totally
unstable, there were continuing clashes for reasons of borders, ethnic problems, independence, control of
economic resource: it is one of
the most problematic areas in the
world. The fall of the USSR fueled
the interest of regional powers, such as
Turkey, Iran and the newborn Russia.
The competition intensified also
because the small republics still under Russian control were, and still are, very active and
belligerent and their will of independence is rooted (e.g. the famous Chechnya).
By the time, Russian influence alienated any ambitions of Iran or Turkey but the region has seen the growing of the American interest: the energy richness of the Caucasus convinced the US to intensify relations with the states of the area, from several points of view. In these terms it is possible to highlight the American pressure on Azerbaijan and Georgia, (territories who were unsatisfied by the Russian presence) to bring them close to the Western Civilization’s sphere. The positive relationship between these actors allowed the creation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in 2006, an engineering work that represents an enormous resource for the Europe and the US, taking oil from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia and bringing it to Turkey and then to the West. The pipeline guarantees a high daily amount of oil and does not pass through the territories under Russian control, subtracting large portions of crude oil and vast crucial territories to Moscow.
Two years later, in 2008, the Caucasus is back under the international light because of the outbreak of the war between Russia and Georgia for the control of the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: Moscow cleverly exploited regional tensions to reaffirm its presence in the area and to emphasize the importance of controlling those territories.
By the time, Russian influence alienated any ambitions of Iran or Turkey but the region has seen the growing of the American interest: the energy richness of the Caucasus convinced the US to intensify relations with the states of the area, from several points of view. In these terms it is possible to highlight the American pressure on Azerbaijan and Georgia, (territories who were unsatisfied by the Russian presence) to bring them close to the Western Civilization’s sphere. The positive relationship between these actors allowed the creation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in 2006, an engineering work that represents an enormous resource for the Europe and the US, taking oil from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia and bringing it to Turkey and then to the West. The pipeline guarantees a high daily amount of oil and does not pass through the territories under Russian control, subtracting large portions of crude oil and vast crucial territories to Moscow.
Two years later, in 2008, the Caucasus is back under the international light because of the outbreak of the war between Russia and Georgia for the control of the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia: Moscow cleverly exploited regional tensions to reaffirm its presence in the area and to emphasize the importance of controlling those territories.
The American response was not a military intervention in support of Georgia,
its ally, because this could result in a war against Russia, but rather an increase in funding to Tbilisi and Baku’s
governments, permitting them to grow economically and remain
a stable ally in the area: it is, therefore, a battle fought thanks to the alliances
system with the small and weak Caucasian republics.
Since the 2008 war, the area has not recorded clashes that have interested the international press and the recent crisis in Ukraine moved away from the area the attentions and the Russian hegemonic efforts. However, it does not mean the situation is locked, in fact, the Caucasus remains a crucial region where international policies of various countries intertwine in a clash on several levels: the support and influence on Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and neighboring regions remain a silent but significant battlefield between Russia, US, Europe.
Useful links:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2014/11/georgian-politics
Since the 2008 war, the area has not recorded clashes that have interested the international press and the recent crisis in Ukraine moved away from the area the attentions and the Russian hegemonic efforts. However, it does not mean the situation is locked, in fact, the Caucasus remains a crucial region where international policies of various countries intertwine in a clash on several levels: the support and influence on Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and neighboring regions remain a silent but significant battlefield between Russia, US, Europe.
Useful links:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2014/11/georgian-politics
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