Positioned between the Black and Caspian seas and at the intersection of Europe, Asia, Russia, Turkey, and Iran, the South Caucasus occupies a strategic position far greater than its size might suggest. This lecture examines why Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia matter to the United States and Europe—from energy and transportation routes connecting Central Asia with European markets to regional security, political alignment, and the sovereignty of states navigating competing powers. It will also consider how war in Ukraine and shifting regional relationships are changing the West’s interests, influence, and choices in the Caucasus.
Speaker
Ambassador Giorgi Badridze is a Georgian diplomat, international relations analyst, and scholar with more than 30 years of public service experience. He served as Georgia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland from 2009 to 2013 and previously held senior positions in Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including responsibility for relations with Western Europe and the Americas. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (Rondeli Foundation), an expert for the European Commission’s Research Executive Agency, and a lecturer at Tbilisi State University. He is a frequent commentator on Georgian foreign policy, European affairs, and regional security.
Ambassador Badridze teaches two of SRAS’s principal courses in Tbilisi: Identity and Conflict in the Caucasus, the flagship course of the semester program, and Crossroads: Security and Geopolitics in the Caucasus.
About the Series
The Eurasian Corridor Lecture Series features primary and guest lecturers who contribute to SRAS programs across the Baltics, Central & Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Through focused online lectures, they share regional expertise and perspectives on the political, social, cultural, and economic forces shaping the Corridor and its place in the wider world.
Event Format
Unless otherwise noted, each event includes a 25–30-minute presentation, followed by 15 minutes of moderated discussion and 15 minutes of questions from attendees. A recording will be sent to everyone who registers.