Workers starting to install the first pipe of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline near Fier, Albania, as part of the Southern Gas Corridor. September 30, 2016 (Photo Credit: New Europe)
The Azerbaijani State Oil Company (SOCAR) announced, on July 27, the formation of a new corporate entity that will oversee the future development of the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) project. The proposed pipeline is designed to deliver Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe—namely to the Balkan region. According to Murad Heydarov, the head of the subsidiary SOCAR Balkan, the announced firm will be set up by the end of this year (AzerNews, Trend, July 27). Although, SOCAR is not a stakeholder in the IAP project, it acts as a technical consultant and manages the future design of the pipeline between the Albanian cities of Fier and Vlora. This project will represent the first time that SOCAR will undertake engineering services in the Western Balkans. Oxumağa davam et Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline: A Priority Gas Transit Project for Azerbaijan and the Western Balkans→
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, on May 29, officially inaugurated the first phase of his country’s long-awaited flagship Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project, through which Caspian-basin natural gas (from the offshore Shah-Deniz field) will be transported to Europe (Azernews, May 29). The new project consists of several linked pipelines that pass through Azerbaijan and Georgia (via the South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion, or SCPX), Turkey (via the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline, TANAP), and further through Greece, Albania and into Italy (via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, TAP). In the initial operational phase of the SGC, 6 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas will annually be transported via Turkey to Europe, and those volumes will be increased to 10 bcm after 2020. Reportedly, the volumes will be expanded to 31 bcm after 2026, if additional gas compressor stations are constructed.Oxumağa davam et Southern Gas Corridor Project Opening New Long-Term Opportunities for Europe→
President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev (L) hold a joint press conference ( Kayhan Özer – Anadolu Agency )
While Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is focused on the upcoming snap elections on June 24, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a historic visit to Uzbekistan in early May. Uzbekistan-Turkey relations reached its zenith in the 1990s shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Uzbekistan became an obvious target for Turkish soft power. Since the beginning of the 2000s, however, the bilateral relationship between Ankara and Tashkent deteriorated, in part because of the isolationist policy of then-President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and also in part because of ideological differences and the fact that exiled opposition leader Muhammad Salih resided in Turkey. Oxumağa davam et How Will Erdogan’s Recent Visit to Uzbekistan Enhance Turkish-Uzbek Cooperation?→
В четверг Дональд Трамп написал в твиттере, что военная операция в Сирии в ответ на химическую атаку в городе Дума “может начаться очень скоро, либо совсем не скоро”. Накануне американский президент был более решителен, наказав России “готовиться” к ракетному удару по силам сирийского президента Башара Асада. Несмотря на эти противоречивые твиты, США и их союзники, судя по всему, продолжают готовиться к удару по Сирии.
Чем вызвано промедление Трампа с началом атаки? Будут ли атакованы российские военные объекты в Сирии, если Асад разместит “под крылом” российских систем ПВО свою авиацию? И чем на самом деле готова ответить Москва на военную атаку США против сирийской армии? На эти вопросы в интервью Радио Свобода отвечает независимый эксперт по безопасности, автор книги “Сирия. 1946–2012” Фуад Шахбазов. Oxumağa davam et Интервью Радио Свобода: Трамп решил показать зубы”. Сценарии американской операции в Сирии→
The US carried out 59 Tomahawk missile strikes in Syria last year after a chemical gas attack it blamed on the Assad regime [US Navy/Handout/Reuters]
What types of US missiles could be fired?
According to sources, the US deployed several carriers with cruise missiles in the Mediterranean and Red Seas,” said Fuad Shahbazov, a security and military expert based in Azerbaijan.
“Also possible attacks with fighter jets should be considered as the US has huge airbases in the Gulf countries,” he added.
The US will most likely strike the Syrian army’s command and control headquarters, as well as its chemical weapons storage, according to Shahbazov. Judging by the current location of US cruise missiles aboard its naval vessels, pro-Assad strongholds along the Mediterranean, in Latakia province, may face attacks from the sea, he said.Oxumağa davam et Q&A with AlJazeera: 5 things to know about the expected US strikes in Syria→
Armenian Army Celebrates 24th Anniversary (Photo Credit: Massispost)
Armenia’s dependence on Russia makes it a pivotal foothold of Moscow in the South Caucasus, as the only host country of a Russian military base in the region, as well as a member in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). While the growing arms race in the region and the recent escalation of tensions in NagornoKarabakh increased the vulnerability of Armenia, Russia seems to have reinforced its ability to ensure full control over Armenia.Oxumağa davam et HOW DO RUSSIAN LOANS “HELP” ARMENIA TO MODERNIZE ITS MILITARY CAPABILITIES?→
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze (Photo Credit: APA Agency)
On March 15, Baku hosted the first official ministerial meeting of a new quadrilateral regional format, encompassing Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran and Georgia (Trend, March 15). The new grouping was conceived to enhance cooperation among the four neighboring states, particularly in the security sphere. Until now, perhaps the most productive intra-regional cooperation format in the South Caucasus was the Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia triangle. Under the umbrella of this trilateral format, the participating countries have worked to deepen their defense ties as well as held annual military drills (see EDM, March 11, 2014; June 7, 2017). Despite attempts by some observers to portray the tripartite grouping as an anti-Russian bloc in the South Caucasus, the three states have denied such accusations. Oxumağa davam et Baku Pushes New Azerbaijan-Iran-Turkey-Georgia Grouping to Enhance Intra-Regional Cooperation→
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