Russia in Syria and Putin's geopolitical strategy
By Avinoam Idan
October 22nd, 2015, The CACI Analyst
The deepening of Russia’s military presence in Syria and its direct involvement in aiding the Assad regime during the Syrian crisis is a game changing step in the geostrategic context of the Middle East. This is Russia’s third move during the last eight years to change the strategic status quo in the greater Middle East by means of military force. Russia’s new step in Syria aims to influence the geopolitical makeup of the Middle East following the collapse of the Sykes-Picot order. Russia aims to establish itself as a key player from the Caspian Basin in the east, via the Black Sea, to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Iran's empowerment in Central Asia and the South Caucasus
By Richard Weitz
October 19th, 2015, The CACI Analyst
Although international attention regarding Iran naturally gravitates towards Tehran’s activities in the Persian Gulf and the nuclear realm, Iran is also an active player in the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Afghanistan. Thanks to its nuclear deal with the great powers, the subsequent relaxation of sanctions, and the growth of regional terrorism and Russian military activism, Iran’s influence in the region is set to grow considerably in coming years, though not necessarily to the benefit of the regional states or their Western partners.
- Iran
- Central Asia
- South Caucasus
- Iran nuclear deal
- Persian Gulf
- Iranian influence in South Caucasus
- Iraninan influence in Central Asia
- Iranian influence in Afghanistan
- President Rouhani
- Iran Armenia relations
- Iran Azerbaijan relations
- Iran Afghanistan relations
- Iran Russia relations
- Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps
- Islamic extremism
- Afghan Taliban
- US military presence Afghanistan
- Saudi Arabia Afghanistan
- Islamic State ISIL
- Syrian civil war
The fall of Kunduz and Taliban resurgence
By Sudha Ramachandran
October 15th, 2015, The CACI Analyst
The fall of Kunduz to the Taliban has set alarm bells ringing not only in Afghanistan but also far beyond its borders. The capture of Kunduz, even if only temporary, has far reaching implications. It has dealt the Afghan government a heavy blow and is a huge setback for President Ashraf Ghani’s approach and strategy towards the Taliban. While it is expected to force the U.S. to revise its plans for troop withdrawal, Russia, China and Central Asian governments are watching the Taliban’s northward expansion nervously.
- Afghanistan
- Central Asia
- South Asia
- Capture of Kunduz
- Taliban Kunduz
- President Ashraf Ghani
- Afghan civil war
- Afghan National Security Council ANSF
- Afghan National Unity Government NUG
- US hospital bombing MSF Kunduz
- International Security Assistance Force ISAF
- US withdrawal from Afghanistan
- Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansour
- Mullah Omar
- Islamist militants in Central Asia
- Islamic extremism
- Islamic State Afghanistan
- Islamic militants Tajikistan
- Islamic militants Uzbekistan
Russia advocates peacekeeping mission as tensions flare over Nagorno-Karabakh
By Armen Grigoryan
October 13th, 2015, The CACI Analyst
Tensions along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border have intensified from September 24, with skirmishes including the use of heavy artillery by both sides. Tensions have grown to a level where the danger of a large-scale confrontation should be seriously considered. Russia’s specific interests aggravate the situation, while the conflicting sides remain reluctant to seek a compromise solution. In this situation, Armenia and Azerbaijan are under increasing pressure to accept a Russia-led peacekeeping mission to the region.
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Russia
- Nagorno Karabakh conflict
- CSTO peacekeeping mission Nagorno Karabakh
- Armenia Tavush region
- Sergei Lavrov visit to Baku
- Russia Arms Expo
- Russian arms sales Azerbaijan
- Russian arms sales Armenia
- EEU trade
- EEU single currency
- OSCE office Baku closure
- Council of Europe human rights Azerbaijan
- War by accident
- Eastern Partnership
- South Caucasus
Visit also
Staff Publications
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, U.S. Policy in Central Asia through Central Asian Eyes, May 2023.
Analysis Svante E. Cornell, "Promise and Peril in the Caucasus," AFPC Insights, March 30, 2023.
Oped S. Frederick Starr, Putin's War In Ukraine and the Crimean War), 19fourtyfive, January 2, 2023
Oped S. Frederick Starr, Russia Needs Its Own Charles de Gaulle, Foreign Policy, July 21, 2022.
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, Rethinking Greater Central Asia: American and Western Stakes in the Region and How to Advance Them, June 2022
Oped Svante E. Cornell & Albert Barro, With referendum, Kazakh President pushes for reforms, Euractiv, June 3, 2022.
Oped Svante E. Cornell Russia's Southern Neighbors Take a Stand, The Hill, May 6, 2022.
Silk Road Paper Johan Engvall, Between Bandits and Bureaucrats: 30 Years of Parliamentary Development in Kyrgyzstan, January 2022.
Oped Svante E. Cornell, No, The War in Ukraine is not about NATO, The Hill, March 9, 2022.
Analysis Svante E. Cornell, Kazakhstan’s Crisis Calls for a Central Asia Policy Reboot, The National Interest, January 34, 2022.
Book S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell, Strong and Unique: Three Decades of U.S.-Kazakhstan Partnership, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, December 2021.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell, S. Frederick Starr & Albert Barro, Political and Economic Reforms in Kazakhstan Under President Tokayev, November 2021.