Turkish-Georgian relations in the context of Turkey’s regional policy at the current stage

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The South Caucasus has always been a vital link and an artery between the West and the East. For centuries the rich lands and strategic location of this region attracted the attention of strong neighbors who tried to include the region in their borders. After the First World War and the independence of the South Caucasus states, the region turned into one of those points of the world where began a big game for influence. This game ended with the sovietization of the South Caucasus. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the South Caucasus has become a focus of global transformations and political upheavals. At the current age, here are appearing the profits of regional as well as global actors of international relations. The disintegration of USSR created vast opportunities for Turkey to spread its influence not only in the South Caucasus region, but also in Central Asia. In conditions of Karabakh conflict, Armenian-Turkish, Armenian-Azerbaijani complicated relations, Georgia assumed significant role in the context of Turkey’s regional policy, realizing an important function of a corridor between Turkey and Turkic speaking countries of Central Asia and South Caucasus. Based on these facts and giving special importance to the transportation of Caspian energy resources Turkey has been developing close relations with Georgia since the mid-1990s and has successfully reached a high level of cooperation in almost all spheres. In the article has been analyzed the role of South Caucasus in the foreign policy of Turkey. Has been reviewed the main aspects of Turkish-Georgian relations at the current stage. Special attention was paid to the place of Georgia in foreign policy of Turkey. General conclusions were made in regard to Turkey’s foreign policy towards Georgia for the effectiveness of vector and further progress. The author contends that despite the fact that Georgia is trying to diversify its foreign policy Turkish-Georgian bilateral relations will continue to develop at a fast pace.