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ECJ5 APPROVED BY: ____________ MAJ Andrecht, Jay - 2015/03/09
STRATEGIC ESTIMATE OF THE CAUCASUS REGION
• US Domestic Considerations are the oil pipeline through the Southern Caucasus Region and the Black Sea for trade access.
• Non-US/Multinational Policy Goals, include NATO expansion in size and influence. Relations with Russia. Creation of an independent Kurdish nation.
• Iran’s objectives to reconstitute former borders, control the oil pipeline from Caspian Sea and U.S. presence gone from Caucasus region. Iran interests include abandoning nuclear programs.
• Iran lost control of Azeri Turks who formed the Republic of Ahurastan. The Southwest province seceded and formed the Republic of Luristan.
• Ahurastan interests to have international recognition as a sovereign nation and 25% share of oil reserves from the Caspian Sea. Ahurastan engaged in talks with North Korea about procuring nuclear weapons.
• South Azeri Peoples Party a non-state political movement challenging the government of Azerbaijan. South Azeri People’s Army a non-state military (insurgency) movement supported by Ahurastan.
• Free Karabakh Movement (FKM) a non-state actor backed by Azerbaijan.
• Azerbaijan objectives to increase oil rights in the Caspian Sea, restore its territory and have integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structure. Opposed to Ahurastan due to their support of SAPA.
• Azerbaijan currently supported by many U.S. programs (Peace Keeping Operations, Coalition Solidarity Funds, Counter-Terrorist Fellowship Program and Humanitarian Assistance.)
• Russia, allowing U.S./NATO support in Georgia as long as Abkhazia/South Ossetia status quo maintained due to Tatarstan aspirations of independence.
• Russia objectives include modernizing military, maintain control of Chechnya, and high tech sectors. Russia has blocked all