Caucasus: Politics

Domestic

The geopolitical landscape in the Caucasus saw significant diplomatic activity. US Vice President JD Vance traveled to Armenia, marking the first such visit by a sitting US president or vice president. His trip focused on promoting a peace agreement and a 'peace corridor' between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with plans to also visit Azerbaijan to advance these talks. This high-level engagement underscores a concerted external push to mediate the long-standing conflict.

Concurrently, Russia took actions affecting the region's dynamics. It suspended the operation of passport issuance points in Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia that Moscow recognizes as independent. Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a warning to the speaker of Armenia's parliament, cautioning about what he termed the dangers of Yerevan moving closer to the West. These moves highlight Russia's continued strategic involvement and its rhetorical efforts to influence regional alignments.