Historically, the South Caucasus has been a battleground for influence among major powers due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. For decades, Russia has maintained a significant presence in the region, wielding considerable political and military influence. As the war in Ukraine is entering its third year, the significance of Europe’s eastern neighbourhood in the overall security of the European Union has become more prominent. With bitter lessons learned from Ukraine, having failed to keep Belarus away from Russia’s claws, and facing a ticking bomb of Kremlin-fuelled escalation in Moldova, the South Caucasus is currently among the most critical regions for the EU’s geopolitical future. But this time, a lot more is at stake.