러시아ㆍ유라시아

Caucasus region became an important political space for diplomatic relations and energy policy of Turkey after the breakdown of former USSR in 1991. With the collapse of former USSR, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia could be an independent country and appear on international diplomatic stage. These three countries gave chances and clashes at the same time to Turkey because of different geopolitical and economic interests among these countries. The politicians and diplomats of Turkey were burdened with specially coordinating the different geostrategic and economic interests between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azerbaijan and Armenia have different relationships with Turkey and Russia. While Armenia has been supported from Russia after 1991, Azerbaijan, which has clearly expressed nationalistic tendency, has been shaken conflicts with Armenia for controlling the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Turkey has used the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh for pressing Armenia to turnover to Azerbaijan. The pipeline project-BTC pipelines- which will transport gas and oil from Baku to Ceyhan through Tbilisi laid the foundations for economic partnership among Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Turkey is leading partner in implementing BTC pipeline projects. Through BTC pipeline projects, these three countries can easily cooperate in economic and diplomatic relationships. But Armenia which has antagonistic relationship with Azerbaijan is uncomfortable toward BTC pipeline. In spite of bad diplomatic relationships between Azerbaijan and Aremenia, Turkey has tried to mend ties with Armenia to enhance Turkey's geopolitical stature in the Caucasus region. In the end, the future of Turkey's diplomatic relationship with Azerbaijan and Armenia depends on settling the conflicts of Nagorno-Karabakh.