Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Saeed Shookohi ¹
• Zahra Ghasempour Shirazi ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

² M.A., Department of International Relations (Regional Studies), Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The South Caucasus region, due to its geopolitical location, energy resources, and its position as a crossroads between Asia and Europe, has always been a focal point of competition among great powers. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, players such as Russia, the United States, and China have sought to establish their presence in this region. In this context, China has strengthened its presence in the Caucasus by leveraging its economic growth and implementing the "Belt and Road Initiative." This presence can be analyzed within Beijing’s financial, energy, and geostrategic interests. On the other hand, the geopolitical developments resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war have altered the positions of regional and extra-regional actors, providing an opportunity for China to expand its influence in the Caucasus. In this context, the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor has become a strategically important alternative route for connecting China to Europe, bypassing Russia. This study, using the framework of offensive realism, examines the question of how China’s foreign policy in the Caucasus might impact Iran’s national interests. Accordingly, this research hypothesizes that China aims to create a balance between Russia and the United States in the region, and this approach could open the door for aligning interests with Iran. The paper seeks to analyze the geopolitical, economic, and strategic dimensions of this issue.

Keywords

• South Caucasus
• Chinese Foreign Policy. Islamic Republic of Iran. Aggressive Realism.One Belt
• One Road

Main Subjects

• International Relations