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From Baku to Beyond: How to Travel Azerbaijan Smartly

From Baku to Beyond: How to Travel Azerbaijan Smartly

Azerbaijan, a country known as the "Land of Fire," offers a unique travel experience, blending historical sites with a developing modern infrastruc...

A Guide to Azerbaijan's Culture and Traditions

A Guide to Azerbaijan's Culture and Traditions

Azerbaijan, often known as the "Land of Fire," is a nation where ancient traditions blend with modern influences, creating a unique cultural landsc...

Georgia's Journey From Soviet Rule to Independence

Georgia's Journey From Soviet Rule to Independence

Georgia, a country nestled in the Caucasus region of Eurasia, has experienced a tumultuous yet transformative journey since the early 20th century....

How Georgia's Rugged Landscape Shapes Life and Nature

How Georgia's Rugged Landscape Shapes Life and Nature

Georgia, a country situated in the Caucasus region, boasts a remarkably varied topography despite its relatively small size. Often considered a tra...

UN Security Council Faces Record Eight-Month Deadlock Over Iran Sanctions Committee Leadership

UN Security Council Faces Record Eight-Month Deadlock Over Iran Sanctions Committee Leadership

The UN Security Council is experiencing its longest-ever delay in agreeing on leadership for its subsidiary bodies, specifically an eight-month deadlock concerning the Iran sanctions committee. The 10 elected non-permanent members and five incoming countries issued a joint statement expressing alarm over the situation. This impasse has disrupted the council's work, delayed decisions, and weakened engagement with the broader UN membership. The dispute is linked to disagreements over who should lead the Iran sanctions committee and a broader contention regarding the reimposition of UN sanctions on Tehran through the 'snapback mechanism.' Russia's UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, has accused Western council members of refusing to reconsider sanctions regimes that Moscow believes no longer reflect current conditions in Iran. Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group, suggests that Russia, with implicit support from China, is retaliating against the Security Council for last year's decision t...

Armenia Outlines Five-Year Plan for Peace with Azerbaijan, Including New Constitution

Armenia Outlines Five-Year Plan for Peace with Azerbaijan, Including New Constitution

Armenia's government has unveiled a comprehensive five-year development program for 2026-2031, presented by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. A central focus of this program is the formalization of peace with Azerbaijan. Key initiatives include continuing efforts to sign and ratify a peace agreement, establishing interstate relations, and advancing the delimitation and demarcation of the shared state border. The program also emphasizes fostering stronger ties between Armenian and Azerbaijani civil societies and business communities, with an aim to increase bilateral trade. A significant component of this peace process involves the adoption of a new constitution for Armenia. This constitutional change has been previously linked to the peace process, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stating that Yerevan should remove territorial claims against Azerbaijan from its constitution as a condition for a peace agreement. The draft constitution is slated for public discussion, followed by a referendum.

Russia Supplies Explosives and Military Goods to Iran, Raising Concerns for U.S. Interests

Russia Supplies Explosives and Military Goods to Iran, Raising Concerns for U.S. Interests

According to an August 17 report by NBC News, Russia is providing explosives and other military goods to Iran to help replenish its arsenals. This aid includes TNT explosive material, unspecified ammunition, and drone components, which are being shipped via the Caspian Sea. The report cites a European government document verified by a Western official, based on information from the previous month. The cargo is reportedly delivered to Amirabad port in northern Iran using over two dozen vessels owned by the Russian company MG-FLOT, which is based in Russia’s Dagestan region and is currently under Western sanctions. This development follows a pattern of military cooperation between Russia and Iran, where MG-FLOT has been involved in transporting arms between the two nations since 2022, initially supplying Russia with Iranian weapons such as Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 drones.

Analysis-Trump wants a new meeting with Kim Jong Un. North Korea says not so fast

Analysis-Trump wants a new meeting with Kim Jong Un. North Korea says not so fast

By Kyu-seok Shim, Brenda Goh and Trevor Hunnicutt SEOUL/WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump says he wants to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year.

India and Armenia Forge Deeper Defense Partnership, Reducing Russian Dependence

India and Armenia Forge Deeper Defense Partnership, Reducing Russian Dependence

India and Armenia are significantly deepening their defense partnership, moving beyond transactional arms deals to a more structured military cooperation framework. This new framework was established during Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh's visit to Armenia, where both nations agreed to enhance collaboration between their General Staffs. This initiative aims to diversify Armenia's security architecture and reduce its historical reliance on Russia, especially after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war exposed weaknesses in its military capabilities. For India, this partnership represents a defense-export success story and a strategic entry point into the South Caucasus region, fostering connectivity and exercising strategic autonomy.

Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Senior Fellow Highlights Growth of Middle Corridor and Uzbek Manufacturing in Georgia

Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Senior Fellow Highlights Growth of Middle Corridor and Uzbek Manufacturing in Georgia

Laura Linderman, Senior Fellow for Eurasia and Director of Programs at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, has highlighted the increasing strategic importance of the Middle Corridor. According to Linderman, trans-Caspian cargo has seen a significant increase, roughly quintupling since 2018. This growth is further evidenced by Uzbek manufacturers planning final-stage production in Georgia’s Poti free zone. Linderman notes that while Georgia has maintained ties with Central Asia since the 1990s, these connections were previously limited and primarily focused on the Baku–Tbilisi energy axis. She emphasizes that current developments represent a shift towards 'coordinated institutionalisation' rather than isolated bilateral gestures. These changes are attributed to Russia’s declining influence, which has created opportunities for smaller Eurasian states to pursue new strategic directions.

Why Trump can’t rekindle the spark with Kim Jong Un

Why Trump can’t rekindle the spark with Kim Jong Un

The president badly wants a meeting with the North Korean leader. But it’s not clear what they have to talk about.

Russia Ships Explosives to Iran, Bolstering Missile and Drone Capabilities Amid U.S. Concerns

Russia Ships Explosives to Iran, Bolstering Missile and Drone Capabilities Amid U.S. Concerns

Russia is reportedly shipping drone components, ammunition, and TNT to Iran via the Caspian Sea. This transfer of materials is intended to help Tehran replenish its military stockpiles, which have been depleted by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. The information comes from a European government document obtained by NBC News and corroborated by a Western official. This development highlights a growing strategic alliance between Moscow and Tehran, with Russia providing critical resources to enhance Iran's missile and drone arsenal. The shipments are part of an ongoing effort to strengthen Iran's defense capabilities, particularly in the context of regional conflicts and tensions involving the United States.