Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
Taking power by the Democrats led by Barrack Obama, amounted to a wide range of changes in the field of American foreign policy which in many dimensions varies from the era of the neo-conservatisms. Among the most vivid distinctions could be the change in the approach of the American foreign policy towards the South Caucasus region. The main questions in here would be the direction of these changes and the reasons behind and the consequences of the changes in the South Caucasus region. The outcome of the article indicates that under Obama administration, the region disembarked from Washington's strategic priorities. US foreign policy’s change of attitude, reset of relations with Russia, and the US refrain from creating tensions in the Russian peripheral sub-systems, focus of American defense and foreign policy on the Middle East, and austerity measures due to the domestic financial crisis, could be the most important reasons behind the Obama administration’s approach towards South Caucasus. Besides, some facts like considerable cuts in the financial aids provided by the US government for three countries of the region, reduction of the US support level extended to the Georgian government, relative strain in Baku-Washington relations due to severe pressure by the American side on Turkey-Armenia normalization of ties and Obama’s non compliance with his promises given during his presidential election campaign to the effect that he would recognize genocide of the Armenians in 1915, should be known as the most important consequences of adopting such approach. Seemingly, in the event of fundamental changes like recurring a US-Russian confrontation under Vladimir Putin's new administration, taking power by the Republicans in the upcoming US presidential election, and relative improvement in its economic conditions, one could witness a different approach by Washington toward South Caucasus and its
re-gaining importance in the US foreign policy strategies.
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