-
Makhachkala port plays a decisive role in the Iran-Dagestan grain trade
Iran and Dagestan have increased their trade exchange through the Makhachkala Commercial Port, where the Kremlin has invested financial funds to transform this infrastructure into a logistic hub in the Caspian Sea, which might undermine the role of the close port of Baku in Azerbaijan.
-
Cultural/fashion diplomacy and economy in Armenia: the story behind Udivila
During SpecialEurasia’s official mission to Yerevan, our team met with Armenian female entrepreneurs who founded the brand Udivila, which promotes Armenian culture and attempts to carve out a slide of a market where Armenia has not yet been present.
-
Islamic State cell arrested in Russian Stavropol territory
Recent arrests of Russian citizens in the Stavropol territory linked with the Islamic State confirmed that jihadist propaganda penetrated the Russian territory by exploiting local problems and influencing the Muslim communities disseminated in the country, especially in the North Caucasus, where the Kremlin has contrasted local militancy and religious extremism.
-
United Arab Emirates cultural diplomacy in Dagestan
The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Russian Federation organised an event in the city of Makhachkala to promote the national culture and create a link with Dagestan, a strategic North Caucasian republic located on the Caspian Sea.
-
Russian domestic politics: promoting Dagestan culture among the ethnic Russians
Kremlin’s promotion of Dagestan culture and society in Sochi underlines Moscow’s goal to contrast Kavkazophobia and, simultaneously, improve the link between ethnic Russians and local ethnic Dagestani groups since this North Caucasian republic has a strategic role in the Caspian Sea region.
-
Will Georgia open a “second front” against Russia?
Georgian authorities denied that Tbilisi would hold a referendum to open a “second front” against the Russian Federation, destabilising the South Caucasus and threatening the Georgian economy, which is heavily dependent on the Russian market.
-
Iran seeks cooperation with the Dagestani port of Makhachkala
Iran will play a primary role in the import-export activities in the Dagestani port of Makhachkala. The recent meeting between Dagestan and Iran’s representatives showed mutual interest in expanding trade cooperation and transit agreement.
-
Geopolitics of South Ossetia’s possible annexation to Russia
South Ossetia considers the eventuality to join the Russian Federation through a referendum that will change the geopolitical chessboard of the Caucasus and influence the dynamics between Moscow and Tbilisi.
-
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict might influence Moscow-Baku relations
The recent military escalation at the Nagorno-Karabakh/Azerbaijan border, which caused victims from both sides, could negatively affect relations between Moscow and Baku and plunge the region into a new geopolitical, security, and socio-political crisis.
-
Russia and Azerbaijan discussed the “Green Corridor”
Russia and Azerbaijan discussed the “Green Corridor” project, which might become an alternative trade route to counter Western sanctions and strengthen Moscow-Baku relations in the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea region.
-
Ukraine conflict, the North Caucasus, and Russian Muslim leaders’ support to the Kremlin
Since the Ukraine conflict has attracted foreign fighters and the Russian Armed Forces have among their soldiers Muslim believers, the leaders of the Russian Muslim organisations released a statement supporting the Kremlin.
-
Ukraine conflict, Chechnya and the Gulf Arab countries
While the Russian military forces are approaching Kyiv, Chechnya is trying to play its diplomatic role in the Gulf Arab countries to support the Russian Federation in the international arena.
-
Ukraine conflict, kadyrovtsy and Chechnya
The Chechen kadyrovtsy might have been deployed in Ukraine to support the Russian troops. This news caused the reaction of the Caucasus Emirate and underlined the important role that Chechnya plays in the Kremlin’s foreign policy and military strategy.
-
Geopolitics of the Armenian President’s resignation
The Armenian President’s resignation created another political crisis in the Caucasian republic, which, since the Velvet Revolution in 2018, has experienced domestic political instability, the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and its consequent defeat, the parliamentary elections and a new foreign policy marked by a broader approach towards Turkey and Azerbaijan.