러시아ㆍ유라시아

This paper analyzes Russia’s policy towards the South Caucasus region, focusing on the military security policy in particular. Since the mid of 19th century, when the Caucasus region has been annexed by the Imperial Russia, and through the period of the Soviet Union, Russia has had a great impact on the formation of the nation-states in the South Caucasus. Even after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and consequently the independence of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, Russia has been trying to maintain and expand the influence over the countries in the region. There has been visible signs of a new hegemony recovery of the Putin regime since the 2000s, and it was justified by the NATO’s Eastward Expansion and the emergence of Anti-Russian and pro-American regime in Georgia. The New Great Game in the South Caucasus culminated in the war between Russia and Georgia in 2008, then Russia has focused on the expansion of military influence in the region, which is regarded as an important area of Russia’s national security. However, regardless of the will of Russia, factors such as conflicts among countries in the region, economic and political calculations of regional governments, and dynamics of the oppositions in the domestic politics of regional countries make it impossible to expect that the South Caucasus would be turned into a quiet and peaceful area.