The South caucasus republics and the muslim middle East: Political and economic imperatives

Michael B. Bishku focuses on the importance that South Caucasus republics have given to their relations with Middle Eastern neighbors. All three South Caucasus republics have formal diplomatic ties with Israel as well as a number of states in both the Arab and Islamic worlds. Azerbaijan has the greatest cultural affinity with the latter countries, being Turkic linguistically and having a predominantly Shiite Muslim population. Trade figures, foreign investment, and communication links are key indicators of the importance of the South Caucasus republics' ties with their neighbors. Russia was, in 2008, Armenia's largest trading partner in both imports and exports: 19.3 percent of Armenia's imports came from Russia, while 20.2 percent of its exports went to the same. Georgia, the only South Caucasus country with a resident ambassador in Israel, has embassies in Egypt, Jordan, and Kuwait.