Russia Out NATO In: Georgia’s Perspective on Regional Peace and Security in the South Caucasus

Year 2021, Volume: 12 Issue: 22, 89 - 106, 01.11.2021

Fulya Aksu Ereker , Utku Özer

Abstract

Georgia is a small country in an insecure region where military es- calation has become a common feature of regional politics. At the same time, it is strategically important for both the West and Russia, which is one of the key causes of instability. The aim of this study is to analyse Georgia’s security perspective on regional security in the South Caucasus, which is suggested to be intertwined with its national security perspective. Insecurity and conflict, according to Georgia’s security perception, lead to increased Russian interference in the region, which itself is one of the causes of the region’s per- sistent instability. Thus, stability in the South Caucasus is one of Georgia’s top priorities in terms of security, which is reflected in Georgia’s National Security Concept (NSC) adopted in 2011, and the 2012 Resolution of Basic Directions of Georgia’s Foreign Policy. Following Georgia’s NSC, this study examines the relationship be- tween Georgia’s security expectations and regional geopolitical re- alities and finds that, although Georgia’s current security perception, based on the 2011 NSC, has met national and regional security needs so far, adaptation of the security policy to new circumstances, where Georgia could serve as a connection between the West and the East rather than choosing between them, is required.

Keywords

South Caucasus, Georgian security, regional security, national security concept, Euro-Atlantic Alignment, Russia

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