The South Caucasus region, rich in history and important in geostrategic terms, has recently experienced renewed conflict as well as tensions between its regional powers. The new format for cooperation, instituted after the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, promises significant dividends for all stakeholders in terms of integrated regional economic cooperation, the opening of new transport and connectivity routes between Europe and Asia and the bringing of long-lasting peace between the region’s various ethnic groups. This talk will explore the recent tensions, the prospects for peace, and Azerbaijan’s role in establishing a new framework for cooperation and security.

 Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim was appointed as the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States of America on July 26, 2021. He has previously served as ambassador in the Republic of Turkey (2017-21) and before that as Head of Mission to NATO at the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (2011-2017). He was educated at Baku State University from which he received a master’s degree in international relations (with distinction). He also received a master’s degree in security studies (with distinction) from Georgetown University and attended the senior course at the NATO Defense College in Rome in 2000-2001. Ambassador Ibrahim has taught a course titled “The Foreign Policy of Azerbaijan” and the seminar “The Post-Soviet Politics of Azerbaijan,” both at Khazar University in Baku, Azerbaijan.