MFA: extra-regional players are trying to gain a foothold in the South Caucasus

MOSCOW, October 6 - RIA Novosti. Extra-regional players are trying to gain a foothold in the South Caucasus and reduce the interaction of the countries of the region with Russia, Iran and China, Mikhail Kalugin, director of the fourth department of the CIS countries of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“Some extra-regional players are trying to gain a foothold in the South Caucasus, intending to integrate it into their aggressive, selfish plans. We are observing their attempts to reduce the interaction of the South Caucasus countries with Iran, China, and to undermine the region’s cooperation with one of its key partners – Russia,” Kalugin said.

In his opinion, this cannot be called diversification, “although time has shown more than once that the West is not able to replace our country in the South Caucasus either as a guarantor of security or as an economic partner.”

The diplomat emphasized that the South Caucasus is being transformed - its international connections are expanding, subjectivity is increasing, which fully reflects the realities of the modern polycentric world. At the same time, the director of the department noted that the region is not a chessboard for other people’s games. Its division into spheres of influence is a road to nowhere.