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- Depending on the radius of the military base action circle,
owner state is gaining more opportunities to impact region and also
the
world directly or indirectly;
- Creates chance to easily react in the state of emergency by
having logistic and military resources within the region (1).
In addition to these, the military base which locates in the
territories of national interest gets information very easily and fast
which creates the opportunity of react immediately in case of any
issue.
On the other hand, having military base abroad creates some
challenges, problems and disadvantages for owner state. The main
problems are the followings:
- Financial;
- Security.
However, each problem has its solutions. In order to solve
financial problems, owner state is sharing expenses with the state
where military base is locating. Due to solve the security problem
that military base can face, again, owner state should promise safety
guarantee to locating state, for not being surrounded by locating
state’s military corpuses (2).
What is National Interests of the U.S and Russia in the region?
National interests of the U.S. Although the South Caucasus is
geographically far away from the U.S., events there can have serious
ramifications for the transatlantic community. If the U.S. is to have a
grand strategy for dealing with a resurgent Russia and an
emboldened Iran, policymakers in Washington cannot ignore the
South Caucasus. The South Caucasus sits at a crucial geographical
and cultural crossroads and has been strategically important for
military and economic reasons for centuries. This is particularly true
for the U.S. and Europe. The region, especially Georgia and
Azerbaijan, has played a major role in NATO’s Northern
Distribution Network for resupplying troops in Afghanistan.
Important pipelines transit the region carrying oil and gas to
European markets. As Europeans try to become less dependent on
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Russian energy sources these pipelines will become increasingly
important. However distant the region might seem, it is important
and cannot be ignored (7).
Due to the geostrategic importance of the South Caucasus, and
Russia’s new role in the region, the U.S. cannot afford to ignore the
latest political and security developments there.
Four developments in the South Caucasus merit close attention:
Increasing fighting between Armenia and
Azerbaijan over the
Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno–Karabakh;
The upcoming referendum
in and possible Russian
annexation of the Georgian breakaway territory of South Ossetia;
The rise of Iranian
meddling in the region; and
An increasing Russian military presence in Armenia.
It is therefore in America’s national interest to keep a close eye
on developments in the region (6).
National interests of the Russia. The South Caucasus is of
interest to Russia both in terms of ensuring Russia’s security and in
terms of its economy. Among the many factors determining the
importance of this region one may single out the following:
- It borders on the North Caucasus, which generates grave
internal threats to Russia’s security.
- It separates Russia from
its major southern partners,
Turkey
and Iran.
- It has a high
level of instability, with some serious unsettled
internal conflicts. There is also potential
for conflict in relations
between South Caucasian states and with their southern neighbors.
- The states of the region play an important role in the
development of the mineral resources of the Caspian Basin.
- Global and regional powers, and other states as well, are
paying increasing attention to the region (5).
Russia’s policy towards the South Caucasus has undergone
significant changes in the 1990s, and can hardly be characterized as
consistent. Nevertheless, Moscow has through all these years been
deeply involved in emerging processes in the South Caucasus, and