Analysis: EU Engagement in the South Caucasus in 2026 in the Context of Armenia-Azerbaijan Normalization

This analysis was prepared for commonspace.eu by Varduhi Harutyunyan, a Senior Expert at the Orbeli Centre, in Yerevan, Armenia. Armenia and Azerbaijan entered a decisive phase in the normalization of their relations in 2025, marked by the initialing of …

South Caucasus Pipeline Company spends around $71 million in operating expenditure and $38 million in capital ...

Baku, February 12, AZERTAC In 2025, the South Caucasus Pipeline Company (SCPC) spent around $71 million in operating expenditure and $38 million in capital expenditure in total, according to bp Azerbaijan’s 2025 full year results released on Thursday. “The …

12 February 2026 - A new chapter in US relations with the South Caucasus

President Aliyev in Munich: peace, power and new Caucasus reality

President Ilham Aliyev’s presence at the Munich Security Conference this February carried a symbolism that extended well beyond diplomatic routine. Munich has obviously long been a political arena for strategic recalibration, a stage where global powers …

The End of Russian Hegemony: How Azerbaijan Rewrote the Rules in the Caucasus

The outgoing year of 2025 delivered developments in the South Caucasus that would have seemed unthinkable just a short time ago. Armenia has begun purchasing gasoline produced by Azerbaijan’s state-owned SOCAR. Earlier, it received its first shipments of …

A bad Ukraine peace could ignite new wars in Russia’s former empire

A fresh round of US-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is taking place this week as the Trump administration seeks to reach a deal by early summer. While pro-Ukrainian voices warn that any agreement lacking ironclad security guarantees for …

Georgia in 2026: Between Great-Power Fault Lines and Internal Fractures

In 2026, Georgia’s foreign policy risks no longer stem from a single hostile actor or a sudden geopolitical shock. They emerge from a far more complex and unsettling reality: the South Caucasus is changing faster than Georgia is adapting. Peace between …

U.S.–Armenian Relations Amid Shifting Power Dynamics: Expectations and Challenges

The South Caucasus is entering a new phase of political and geopolitical transformation, characterized by shifting power balances, contested connectivity projects, and the redefinition of external influence in the region. Against this backdrop, U.S.- …

Syria starts emptying IS-linked Al-Hol camp

Syria began evacuating remaining residents of Al-Hol camp, which long housed relatives of suspected Islamic State group fighters, as it empties the formerly Kurdish-controlled facility, two officials told AFP. Al-Hol, located in a desert region of Hasakeh …

Qarabag report: Everything you need to know about Newcastle's Champions League opponents

Expert insight from Azerbaijan  ©TM/IMAGO The Champions League returns this week with the play-off round, and for Newcastle United, a long eight-hour journey to Azerbaijan awaits. The Magpies head to Baku this Wednesday evening to face Qarabağ, who …