EU-US divisions – a new challenge or a new opportunity for the South Caucasus?

The 61st Munich Security Conference, held from 14 to 16 February, sent shock waves through international politics. In his speech at the conference, the U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, harshly criticised European policy. The equally harsh reaction from European leaders gave many analysts reason to believe that the Euro-Atlantic partnership is facing an unprecedented crisis. From the first days of Trump’s second term, Washington radically changed its approach to Russia’s war against Ukraine, initiating talks with Moscow and ignoring the position of European capitals. Under these circumstances, Europe is forced to rethink their existing understanding of the security architecture.

Can this process be considered a schism between Europe and America or is it still possible to salvage the alliance? What consequences will it have for the South Caucasus and, in particular, for the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement process? Is it possible that Russia’s role in the South Caucasus will once again become decisive against the backdrop of the passivity of the ‘collective West’, or will other regional and global players try to step in?

These and other questions were discussed by Areg Kochinyan, political scientist, Head of the Centre for Security Policy Studies, and Rusif Huseynov, Director of the Topchubashov Analytical Center, in the weekl programme ‘The Line of Contact – Current Topic’ on CivilNet channel. The programme was prepared on the joint initiative of Yerevan and Baku Press Clubs.