The Interest of Regional and International Actors in South Caucasus

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and manifestation of the newly independent states, South Caucasus has become the scene of rivalry between powers due to the vacuum of power preponderance. Given the high level of tension and competition amongst the major actors in the region, characterized by ethnic-religious fractions, any (re-emerging) conflict will potentially become a plane of struggle between Iran, Turkey and Russia as regional powers that are competing with the United States and its Western allies as external actors for effectively expanding their influence and achieving strategic local interests. This raises the question of how the regional and trans-regional actors’ approach has had an impact on the security issues in South Caucasus following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Following formation of the newly independent political systems in South Caucasus, each of the regional and transregional actors has excerpted different approaches. Regional powers view that maintenance of peace and stability requires cooperation of all states in the area without foreign interference. Conversely, trans-regional actors based on security and stability provisions pursue distinct goals. It appears that adoption of such paths has not provided appropriate local stability yet. It is inferred overall that states in question endeavor to maintain the current status quo and international order too, at least for the time being.