Azerbaijan’s strategic balancing act amid regional turbulence

Abstract

The South Caucasus is once again confronting a rapidly deteriorating security environment as major geopolitical rivalries unfold on its borders. To the north, the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, while to the south, the confrontation between Iran and the United States/Israel has escalated through missile strikes, drone warfare, and retaliatory operations. Wedged geographically between these conflicts, the South Caucasus faces growing risks that regional stability could unravel as tensions spill across borders.