The European Union’s interest in investing in regional connectivity projects in the South Caucasus, such as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is driven by a need for strategic credibility and a tangible foreign policy success, according to a regional expert.
Speaking to AnewZ from Tbilisi, Georgia, Dr. George Mchedlishvili, Associate Professor at European University, said the EU is seeking a “success story” at a time when its institutional, financial and security limitations have been increasingly exposed.
“The European Union needs a success story. There has been a dearth, a deficit in success stories,” Dr. Mchedlishvili said, arguing that the war in Ukraine has laid bare structural weaknesses within the bloc.
Assessments by the European Council on Foreign Relations and policy reviews published by the European Commission since 2022 have acknowledged that the war exposed gaps in the EU’s rapid decision-making, defence readiness and financial mobilisation capacity.
He noted that these pressures have left the EU in a significantly weaker position, prompting Brussels to look for areas where it can demonstrate effective leadership.
According to Dr. Mchedlishvili, the South Caucasus represents one such opportunity.
He pointed to the EU’s long-standing engagement with countries in the region, suggesting that deeper involvement in connectivity initiatives could open a new strategic front, particularly if pursued alongside the United States.
The European Commission and the European External Action Service have repeatedly identified the South Caucasus as a key pillar of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which prioritises transport, energy and digital corridors linking Europe with the Caspian basin and Central Asia, including the so-called Middle Corridor, as outlined in official EU ministerial statements and investment forums held in 2023–2024.
Shared goals
“This could be one important area where the United States and the European Union could look eye to eye,” he said, adding that recent U.S. strategic reviews show few regions where transatlantic priorities align so closely.
U.S. State Department briefings and Congressional Research Service reports have highlighted regional connectivity in the South Caucasus as an area of growing American interest, particularly in relation to supply-chain resilience, energy diversification and alternatives to Russia- and China-controlled routes.
He stressed that the combined political and economic weight of the EU and the United States gives their involvement added significance. As two major Western security providers and economic powerhouses, their shared investment in the South Caucasus could help shape long-term stability and prosperity.
Peace in South Caucasus
Dr. Mchedlishvili argued that political will from Brussels and Washington would directly support peace efforts in the region, as both sides appear to share a common objective of fostering a peaceful and stable neighbourhood in the South Caucasus.
This view aligns with statements by EU Council President Charles Michel and U.S. officials involved in Armenia–Azerbaijan mediation, who have framed connectivity and economic integration as confidence-building tools linked to long-term regional stability.
“They do want peace in the South Caucasus,” he said, noting that this convergence of interests could facilitate progress on regional cooperation and connectivity.
He also highlighted the evolving political landscape in Armenia, suggesting that the current leadership is seeking to capitalise on shifting geopolitical dynamics. In his view, this creates additional momentum for external actors looking to advance connectivity projects tied to broader peace and development agendas.
Dr. Mchedlishvili concluded that while the EU faces multiple challenges, meaningful engagement in South Caucasus connectivity could serve both as a strategic investment and as a demonstration of renewed European relevance on the international stage.
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Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has raised the retail prices of petrol and diesel after global oil prices climbed sharply. The country’s top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced the move after reviewing international oil market trends.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved a new programme aimed at developing educational courses and training sessions for young parents.
The United States has designated Afghanistan a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”, accusing the Taliban of holding American citizens to gain political concessions and demanding the immediate release of detained Americans.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved a new programme aimed at developing educational courses and training sessions for young parents.
Kazakhstan has evacuated 8,585 citizens from Middle Eastern countries as regional tensions escalate. Authorities are coordinating air and land evacuations while analysts warn the crisis could reshape security and energy risks across the Caspian region.
The United States has designated Afghanistan a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”, accusing the Taliban of holding American citizens to gain political concessions and demanding the immediate release of detained Americans.
Azerbaijan is evacuating nearly 200 people from the Middle East on a special charter flight departing from Oman.
Up to 30 tonnes of food will be delivered to Iran amidst ongoing hostilities with U.S. and Israel, following a phone converstation between the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Iranian counterpart Massoud Pezeshkian.
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