SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when the West Asia region, particularly in recent months, has been undergoing the most complex political and security developments of the past half-century, the sudden decision by the cabinet of the Zionist regime to recognize the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey, which has faced strong condemnation and opposition from Ankara and Baku, raises questions.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Caucasus issues analyst stated that increased cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, along with Western support for Baku, signifies the formation of a new front of geopolitical competition between NATO and Russia in the South Caucasus.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Online Strategic Council – Interview: It is essential that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing adopt a more coordinated approach in the face of Washington’s strategy to revive its influence in Eurasia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior Eurasian affairs analyst stated that the trilateral agreement between Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8, 2025, known as the “Trump Route,” is a turning point in the geopolitical equations of the South Caucasus. This agreement, ostensibly signed for peace and the establishment of a transit corridor between Baku and Nakhchivan, carries serious concerns. From the perspective of analysts, this plan is not merely an economic project but part of the U.S. strategy to enhance its influence in the region and contain regional powers such as Iran and Russia.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: On the verge of finalizing the Baku-Yerevan peace agreement, the recent remarks by Mnatsakan Safaryan, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, regarding the potential handover of the “logistical management” of the Zangezur route to a foreign company have pushed the status of this 32-kilometer strip into a critical phase. The discussion of a foreign operator’s involvement coincides with the meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi—a meeting that, according to regional media, primarily focused on this blocked route.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: Among the countries of the world, few can be found like Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which, in addition to sharing a common civilizational origin, are deeply and extensively interconnected in all aspects (cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic, customs and traditions, etc.).
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: According to what the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities officially announce these days, the two South Caucasus countries are taking the last steps to reach a peace treaty.
Strategic Council Online: The former Iranian ambassador to Armenia said Armenia’s strategic closeness to Europe and America is not far from expected because Pashinyan’s government is worried that if another attack occurs on its borders, it will not be able to maintain its position and defend its country. Therefore, he is trying to arrange for allies in the West.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when the West Asia region, particularly in recent months, has been undergoing the most complex political and security developments of the past half-century, the sudden decision by the cabinet of the Zionist regime to recognize the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey, which has faced strong condemnation and opposition from Ankara and Baku, raises questions.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Caucasus issues analyst stated that increased cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, along with Western support for Baku, signifies the formation of a new front of geopolitical competition between NATO and Russia in the South Caucasus.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Online Strategic Council – Interview: It is essential that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing adopt a more coordinated approach in the face of Washington’s strategy to revive its influence in Eurasia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior Eurasian affairs analyst stated that the trilateral agreement between Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8, 2025, known as the “Trump Route,” is a turning point in the geopolitical equations of the South Caucasus. This agreement, ostensibly signed for peace and the establishment of a transit corridor between Baku and Nakhchivan, carries serious concerns. From the perspective of analysts, this plan is not merely an economic project but part of the U.S. strategy to enhance its influence in the region and contain regional powers such as Iran and Russia.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: On the verge of finalizing the Baku-Yerevan peace agreement, the recent remarks by Mnatsakan Safaryan, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, regarding the potential handover of the “logistical management” of the Zangezur route to a foreign company have pushed the status of this 32-kilometer strip into a critical phase. The discussion of a foreign operator’s involvement coincides with the meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi—a meeting that, according to regional media, primarily focused on this blocked route.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: Among the countries of the world, few can be found like Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which, in addition to sharing a common civilizational origin, are deeply and extensively interconnected in all aspects (cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic, customs and traditions, etc.).
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: According to what the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities officially announce these days, the two South Caucasus countries are taking the last steps to reach a peace treaty.
Strategic Council Online: The former Iranian ambassador to Armenia said Armenia’s strategic closeness to Europe and America is not far from expected because Pashinyan’s government is worried that if another attack occurs on its borders, it will not be able to maintain its position and defend its country. Therefore, he is trying to arrange for allies in the West.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when the West Asia region, particularly in recent months, has been undergoing the most complex political and security developments of the past half-century, the sudden decision by the cabinet of the Zionist regime to recognize the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey, which has faced strong condemnation and opposition from Ankara and Baku, raises questions.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Caucasus issues analyst stated that increased cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, along with Western support for Baku, signifies the formation of a new front of geopolitical competition between NATO and Russia in the South Caucasus.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Online Strategic Council – Interview: It is essential that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing adopt a more coordinated approach in the face of Washington’s strategy to revive its influence in Eurasia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior Eurasian affairs analyst stated that the trilateral agreement between Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8, 2025, known as the “Trump Route,” is a turning point in the geopolitical equations of the South Caucasus. This agreement, ostensibly signed for peace and the establishment of a transit corridor between Baku and Nakhchivan, carries serious concerns. From the perspective of analysts, this plan is not merely an economic project but part of the U.S. strategy to enhance its influence in the region and contain regional powers such as Iran and Russia.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: On the verge of finalizing the Baku-Yerevan peace agreement, the recent remarks by Mnatsakan Safaryan, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, regarding the potential handover of the “logistical management” of the Zangezur route to a foreign company have pushed the status of this 32-kilometer strip into a critical phase. The discussion of a foreign operator’s involvement coincides with the meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi—a meeting that, according to regional media, primarily focused on this blocked route.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: Among the countries of the world, few can be found like Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which, in addition to sharing a common civilizational origin, are deeply and extensively interconnected in all aspects (cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic, customs and traditions, etc.).
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: According to what the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities officially announce these days, the two South Caucasus countries are taking the last steps to reach a peace treaty.
Strategic Council Online: The former Iranian ambassador to Armenia said Armenia’s strategic closeness to Europe and America is not far from expected because Pashinyan’s government is worried that if another attack occurs on its borders, it will not be able to maintain its position and defend its country. Therefore, he is trying to arrange for allies in the West.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when the West Asia region, particularly in recent months, has been undergoing the most complex political and security developments of the past half-century, the sudden decision by the cabinet of the Zionist regime to recognize the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey, which has faced strong condemnation and opposition from Ankara and Baku, raises questions.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Caucasus issues analyst stated that increased cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, along with Western support for Baku, signifies the formation of a new front of geopolitical competition between NATO and Russia in the South Caucasus.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Online Strategic Council – Interview: It is essential that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing adopt a more coordinated approach in the face of Washington’s strategy to revive its influence in Eurasia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior Eurasian affairs analyst stated that the trilateral agreement between Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8, 2025, known as the “Trump Route,” is a turning point in the geopolitical equations of the South Caucasus. This agreement, ostensibly signed for peace and the establishment of a transit corridor between Baku and Nakhchivan, carries serious concerns. From the perspective of analysts, this plan is not merely an economic project but part of the U.S. strategy to enhance its influence in the region and contain regional powers such as Iran and Russia.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: On the verge of finalizing the Baku-Yerevan peace agreement, the recent remarks by Mnatsakan Safaryan, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, regarding the potential handover of the “logistical management” of the Zangezur route to a foreign company have pushed the status of this 32-kilometer strip into a critical phase. The discussion of a foreign operator’s involvement coincides with the meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi—a meeting that, according to regional media, primarily focused on this blocked route.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: Among the countries of the world, few can be found like Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which, in addition to sharing a common civilizational origin, are deeply and extensively interconnected in all aspects (cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic, customs and traditions, etc.).
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: According to what the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities officially announce these days, the two South Caucasus countries are taking the last steps to reach a peace treaty.
Strategic Council Online: The former Iranian ambassador to Armenia said Armenia’s strategic closeness to Europe and America is not far from expected because Pashinyan’s government is worried that if another attack occurs on its borders, it will not be able to maintain its position and defend its country. Therefore, he is trying to arrange for allies in the West.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when the West Asia region, particularly in recent months, has been undergoing the most complex political and security developments of the past half-century, the sudden decision by the cabinet of the Zionist regime to recognize the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey, which has faced strong condemnation and opposition from Ankara and Baku, raises questions.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Caucasus issues analyst stated that increased cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, along with Western support for Baku, signifies the formation of a new front of geopolitical competition between NATO and Russia in the South Caucasus.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Online Strategic Council – Interview: It is essential that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing adopt a more coordinated approach in the face of Washington’s strategy to revive its influence in Eurasia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior Eurasian affairs analyst stated that the trilateral agreement between Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8, 2025, known as the “Trump Route,” is a turning point in the geopolitical equations of the South Caucasus. This agreement, ostensibly signed for peace and the establishment of a transit corridor between Baku and Nakhchivan, carries serious concerns. From the perspective of analysts, this plan is not merely an economic project but part of the U.S. strategy to enhance its influence in the region and contain regional powers such as Iran and Russia.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: On the verge of finalizing the Baku-Yerevan peace agreement, the recent remarks by Mnatsakan Safaryan, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, regarding the potential handover of the “logistical management” of the Zangezur route to a foreign company have pushed the status of this 32-kilometer strip into a critical phase. The discussion of a foreign operator’s involvement coincides with the meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi—a meeting that, according to regional media, primarily focused on this blocked route.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: Among the countries of the world, few can be found like Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which, in addition to sharing a common civilizational origin, are deeply and extensively interconnected in all aspects (cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic, customs and traditions, etc.).
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: According to what the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities officially announce these days, the two South Caucasus countries are taking the last steps to reach a peace treaty.
Strategic Council Online: The former Iranian ambassador to Armenia said Armenia’s strategic closeness to Europe and America is not far from expected because Pashinyan’s government is worried that if another attack occurs on its borders, it will not be able to maintain its position and defend its country. Therefore, he is trying to arrange for allies in the West.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when the West Asia region, particularly in recent months, has been undergoing the most complex political and security developments of the past half-century, the sudden decision by the cabinet of the Zionist regime to recognize the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey, which has faced strong condemnation and opposition from Ankara and Baku, raises questions.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Caucasus issues analyst stated that increased cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, along with Western support for Baku, signifies the formation of a new front of geopolitical competition between NATO and Russia in the South Caucasus.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Online Strategic Council – Interview: It is essential that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing adopt a more coordinated approach in the face of Washington’s strategy to revive its influence in Eurasia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior Eurasian affairs analyst stated that the trilateral agreement between Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8, 2025, known as the “Trump Route,” is a turning point in the geopolitical equations of the South Caucasus. This agreement, ostensibly signed for peace and the establishment of a transit corridor between Baku and Nakhchivan, carries serious concerns. From the perspective of analysts, this plan is not merely an economic project but part of the U.S. strategy to enhance its influence in the region and contain regional powers such as Iran and Russia.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: On the verge of finalizing the Baku-Yerevan peace agreement, the recent remarks by Mnatsakan Safaryan, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, regarding the potential handover of the “logistical management” of the Zangezur route to a foreign company have pushed the status of this 32-kilometer strip into a critical phase. The discussion of a foreign operator’s involvement coincides with the meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi—a meeting that, according to regional media, primarily focused on this blocked route.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: Among the countries of the world, few can be found like Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which, in addition to sharing a common civilizational origin, are deeply and extensively interconnected in all aspects (cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic, customs and traditions, etc.).
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: According to what the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities officially announce these days, the two South Caucasus countries are taking the last steps to reach a peace treaty.
Strategic Council Online: The former Iranian ambassador to Armenia said Armenia’s strategic closeness to Europe and America is not far from expected because Pashinyan’s government is worried that if another attack occurs on its borders, it will not be able to maintain its position and defend its country. Therefore, he is trying to arrange for allies in the West.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.
SCFR Online – Opinion: At a time when the West Asia region, particularly in recent months, has been undergoing the most complex political and security developments of the past half-century, the sudden decision by the cabinet of the Zionist regime to recognize the Armenian genocide committed by Turkey, which has faced strong condemnation and opposition from Ankara and Baku, raises questions.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A Caucasus issues analyst stated that increased cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, along with Western support for Baku, signifies the formation of a new front of geopolitical competition between NATO and Russia in the South Caucasus.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A university professor said, “NATO is seeking strategic influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.”
Online Strategic Council – Interview: It is essential that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing adopt a more coordinated approach in the face of Washington’s strategy to revive its influence in Eurasia.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert stated that recently, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, by announcing his country’s mediating role between the Israeli regime and Syria, attempted to turn Baku into one of the active regional players. In an interview, Aliyev emphasized that the primary goal of this action is to strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, Aliyev spoke of Azerbaijan’s readiness to support the restoration of relations between Turkey and the Israeli regime and elaborated on his country’s humanitarian and energy assistance to Syria, including the export of gas to Syria based on a quadrilateral agreement with Turkey and Qatar, which began on August 2nd and may increase in the future. However, regional analysts view this mediation with skepticism, seeing it as being in line with Tel Aviv’s interests and the improvement of Baku’s geopolitical standing.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior Eurasian affairs analyst stated that the trilateral agreement between Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the United States on August 8, 2025, known as the “Trump Route,” is a turning point in the geopolitical equations of the South Caucasus. This agreement, ostensibly signed for peace and the establishment of a transit corridor between Baku and Nakhchivan, carries serious concerns. From the perspective of analysts, this plan is not merely an economic project but part of the U.S. strategy to enhance its influence in the region and contain regional powers such as Iran and Russia.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: On the verge of finalizing the Baku-Yerevan peace agreement, the recent remarks by Mnatsakan Safaryan, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, regarding the potential handover of the “logistical management” of the Zangezur route to a foreign company have pushed the status of this 32-kilometer strip into a critical phase. The discussion of a foreign operator’s involvement coincides with the meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi—a meeting that, according to regional media, primarily focused on this blocked route.
Strategic Council Online – Analysis: Among the countries of the world, few can be found like Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which, in addition to sharing a common civilizational origin, are deeply and extensively interconnected in all aspects (cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic, customs and traditions, etc.).
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: According to what the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities officially announce these days, the two South Caucasus countries are taking the last steps to reach a peace treaty.
Strategic Council Online: The former Iranian ambassador to Armenia said Armenia’s strategic closeness to Europe and America is not far from expected because Pashinyan’s government is worried that if another attack occurs on its borders, it will not be able to maintain its position and defend its country. Therefore, he is trying to arrange for allies in the West.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The simultaneity of pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has turned the geography of energy and shipping into a new arena for the emergence of new risks, costs, and leverage.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Makkah Pact, signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is more than an answer to geopolitical vacuums; in practice, it faces a “deterrence dilemma” and “differing threat perception.” While this pact symbolizes a transition toward regional self-reliance, its first field tests and the complexities of relations with regional actors will determine its real meaning.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The reason for Washington’s reluctance to enter directly into war with Ansarullah is military and economic limitations, electoral considerations, and concern about the expansion of the crisis at two energy chokepoints.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Ansarullah’s recent lightning-fast operation and surprise advances on Yemen’s western coast have rapidly transformed the equations of the war in that country and developments in West Asia, and have challenged the calculations of Saudi Arabia, the United States, the West, and the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The intensification of U.S. sanctions against Iran on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections indicates Washington’s inability to achieve its war objectives.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The competition between Washington and Beijing over chips and artificial intelligence, simultaneously with the shifting of technological balances, has taken on new economic and security dimensions.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit has created a new opportunity for Iran to transform its membership from a political achievement into economic and transit cooperation.
Strategic Council Online – Note: The Makkah Defense Pact can be seen as a sign of regional countries’ efforts to reduce security dependence on extra-regional powers and redefine the balance in West Asia.