About this Event
What does it mean for the South Caucasus to move beyond its post-Soviet past?
Join EurDC and GW's Onero Institute European Regional Program Chapter at George Washington University for a moderated discussion examining the changing political, economic, and security relationships of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
More than three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the South Caucasus occupies an increasingly important position in European energy markets, international trade, and regional security. Russia's war in Ukraine, the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process, and expanding Western engagement have brought renewed attention to the region and the different paths its three countries are pursuing.
The discussion will begin with Azerbaijan's state-owned energy company SOCAR and its 2026 acquisition of Italiana Petroli, one of Italy's largest integrated energy companies. The transaction provides a case for examining Europe's efforts to diversify its energy supplies, the growing international reach of Azerbaijani investment, and the relationship between foreign ownership of strategic infrastructure and national energy security.
From there, the panel will consider Armenia's efforts to diversify its security partnerships, the implications of the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process and new transport corridors, Georgia's changing relationship with the European Union, and the continued influence of Russia, Türkiye, and Iran.
These developments raise a broader question: Is the South Caucasus moving toward the West, or are its countries developing different strategies to reduce external dependencies and gain greater control over their futures?
See the line-up here.
Event venue & nearby stays
George Washington University, 2121 I Street Northwest, Washington, United States
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