After the Wars: Why the South Caucasus Is Entering a Structural Transition

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Aze.US Recent U.S. diplomatic engagement in the South Caucasus is often interpreted through the narrow lens of individual visits or short-term regional crises. A more durable reading suggests something different: the region is entering a structural transition shaped by the erosion of post-Soviet security arrangements and the gradual emergence of connectivity-driven geopolitics across Eurasia. For … Read more

The United States Is Not Returning to the South Caucasus – It Is Replacing the Old Order

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Aze.US The recent diplomatic activity surrounding U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s engagement in the South Caucasus is widely framed as routine outreach. In reality, it reflects something more consequential: the gradual replacement of the region’s post-Soviet geopolitical order. For decades, the South Caucasus operated within a familiar structure. Russia functioned as the primary security guarantor, … Read more

Iran Is Approaching Managed Change, Jafarli Says

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Aze,US Developments surrounding Iran increasingly resemble a scenario of gradual, negotiated transformation rather than abrupt collapse, according to REAL party chairman Natig Jafarli. He described current U.S. strategy as one of “quiet diplomacy,” where public rhetoric may appear confrontational while substantive negotiations proceed discreetly through diplomatic and elite channels. Washington’s primary objective, in his view, … Read more

The U.S. Is Shaping a New Security Architecture in the South Caucasus

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Aze.US The recent visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to the South Caucasus signals a deeper geopolitical shift than routine diplomacy, according to REAL party chairman Natig Jafarli. Jafarli argues that Washington is gradually constructing a zone of stability and cooperation in the region under U.S. strategic patronage, with Türkiye positioned as the key … Read more

What the United States Is Changing in the South Caucasus

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Aze.US The signing of a U.S.–Azerbaijan strategic charter signals a broader shift in regional security, transit, and geopolitical alignment. The visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Baku and the signing of a strategic partnership charter marked one of the most consequential political developments in the South Caucasus in recent months. The document spans … Read more

Housing Fraud Exposes Structural Risks in Azerbaijan’s Real Estate Market

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Aze.US Recurring fraud cases in Azerbaijan’s construction sector are highlighting structural weaknesses in real estate governance, undermining buyer confidence and exposing gaps between legal safeguards and market practice. Reports from several districts in Baku describe patterns that include the sale of the same apartment to multiple buyers, delayed or unfulfilled relocation promises, sudden demolitions without … Read more

Land Prices in Baku Expected to Rise by 15% in 2026

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Aze.US Land values in Baku are projected to increase by around 15 percent in 2026, continuing a broader upward trend in the capital’s real estate market, according to Vugar Oruj, chairman of the Azerbaijan Society of Appraisers. The forecast follows an estimated 20 percent rise in land prices in 2025, while growth is expected to … Read more

Azerbaijan’s Insurance Sector Set for Double-Digit Growth in 2026

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Aze.US Azerbaijan’s insurance sector is projected to deliver double-digit growth in 2026, reinforcing its gradual transformation from a peripheral financial service into a core pillar of the country’s economic resilience, according to industry leadership. The outlook reflects alignment with national development frameworks, including the 2022–2026 Socio-Economic Development Strategy and the Azerbaijan 2030 National Priorities, both … Read more

Why 2026 Could Become a Turning Point for the South Caucasus

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Aze.US The geopolitical balance in the South Caucasus is entering a phase that analysts increasingly describe as transitional rather than merely tense. After several years marked by conflict, fragile ceasefires, and shifting alliances, regional dynamics are beginning to evolve toward something more structural: a gradual redefinition of influence, connectivity, and long-term security architecture. For Azerbaijan, … Read more

Language, Identity, and Power in the Post-Soviet Space

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Aze.US Why the Debate in Azerbaijan Is Bigger Than It Seems A sharp public statement by Azerbaijani journalist Azer Hasrat has reignited a familiar but unresolved debate across the post-Soviet world:can national identity fully coexist with the continued dominance of the Russian language? In a televised appearance, Hasrat argued that individuals who consistently prioritize Russian … Read more