US driving a stake into the South Caucasus

Editor's note: Has anyone ever thought seriously about who it is exactly planning these strategic economic tactics by the Americans to provoke and disrupt the direction Russia, China and Iran are taking through BRICS? Reports from July 2025 indicate the US corporation has proposed a plan to "lease and manage a section of the transport corridor connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhichevan." This corridor passes through Armenia's southern Syunik province. This proposal involves a "private American logistics firm" operating the corridor as a "neutral guarantor." While the term "mercenary company" is not explicitly used in these reports, some sources, including a YouTube video citing Periodista Digital and RT News, have alleged that the deal would involve a US company and be protected by "around 1,000 armed private contractors" authorized to use force. A neutral guarantor authorized to use force?

If the US is involved and it is a "logistics company" the next step will likely be to build a US military base located right on the border region with Iran. The US has offered to "lease and manage a 32-43 kilometer section of a corridor through Armenia's Syunik province for 100 years." Syunik is a section of the Zangezur Corridor and Iran will not like this arrangement one bit. This corridor would connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhichevan exclave (considered a "key part" of regional politics). Attacks on Russia originating out of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan blamed Russia with no proof) have been reported and documented. There have been continuous clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is hard locating information on what the name of the US logistics company is with Russian reports suggesting it is a US PMC company. Historically, Azerbaijan has been a "den of spies" with regional powers keeping an eye on each other with US military involvement in Azerbaijan likely already in place. This is a direct provocation of Russia's historical dominance in South Caucasus.

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The US is about to drive a massive stake into the South Caucasus

A leaked claim about control of the Syunik corridor may or may not be true – but the conditions for it are rapidly falling into place

By Timur Tarkhanov | Juky 23, 2025

The US is about to drive a massive stake into the South Caucasus

A recent report from the Spanish outlet Periodista Digital made waves by claiming that Armenia may be preparing to hand over control of a strategic corridor in Syunik province to an American private military company.

If this report is true, the consequences will be profound as it would mark the entry of a Western security actor into one of the most sensitive regions in Eurasia. Armenian sovereignty would be significantly diminished. The strategic calculus of Iran, Russia, China, and Turkey would shift. And the South Caucasus, a region held in balance by conflicting pressures, would face a serious realignment.

The Armenian government has denied the report. But the idea that such a scenario could emerge is not far-fetched. Over the past year, the United States has expanded its institutional presence in Armenia. It has signed a Strategic Partnership Charter, introduced border and customs reforms, and deepened security cooperation. American contractors and advisors are already on the ground. These developments suggest a deliberate effort to secure long-term influence – framed as technical assistance, but carrying clear geopolitical weight.

The Syunik corridor sits at the center of this unfolding dynamic. Iran views the territory as a gateway to the Caucasus. Russia considers it a buffer protecting its regional interests. China has identified it as a possible node in the westward expansion of Belt and Road infrastructure. US involvement in this space, even indirectly, would be interpreted by each of these powers as a strategic provocation.

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Moscow would see this as confirmation that it is being pushed out of the South Caucasus altogether. Tehran would regard it as another stage in a pattern of encirclement. Beijing would see growing risk in placing long-term logistical bets on a region where US-aligned security actors operate. France, which has positioned itself as Armenia's diplomatic partner, would lose ground to a deeper US-Turkish arrangement. Each player would adjust accordingly, and the fragile equilibrium that has kept open conflict at bay would begin to fray.

For Türkiye, this shift could unlock long-held ambitions. A Western-secured corridor through Syunik would give Ankara a direct route to Azerbaijan and Central Asia. The corridor would serve Turkish strategic and commercial goals while shielding Turkey from accusations of coercion. American involvement would provide cover – and legitimacy.

Please go to RT to continue reading.

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From Russia's perspective on relations with Azerbaijan so it would appear the US is attempting to break these relations:

Moscow, Baku develop economic ties, no one is interested in severing them — Overchuk

Moscow calls on Baku to release Russians it's holding as good faith move for relations