On 27 January in London, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) held a jointly organized roundtable, titled "Building Peace in the South Caucasus Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty". The roundtable consisted of two panels and brought together high-ranking guests from Azerbaijan and the UK, as well as regional experts.

The first panel, moderated by Dr Neil Melvin, Director for International Security at RUSI, was titled “Geopolitical Transformations and the Regional Security Order”. During the panel, AIR Center Chairman Farid Shafiyev delivered a speech highlighting changing regional dynamics in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan's emerging role as a leading actor in the region, and the strategic importance of sustained U.S. engagement in the region for achieving lasting peace and durable regional stability. Moreover, he highlighted Azerbaijan’s position on various pressing regional and global matters. He noted that after decades of conflict and the occupation of its territories, Azerbaijan is now advocating for peace in the South Caucasus but also beyond. The country is conducting its foreign policy strictly in accordance with its national interests, pursuing as many partnerships as possible on the basis of mutual benefit and trust.

Natalie Sabanadze, Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, discussed Georgia’s role in the evolving regional dynamics.

Ramil Iskandarli, Chairman of the Board at the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum & Acting Secretary General of the Global South NGO Platform, outlined the crucial role played by ongoing peacebuilding initiatives between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He noted the importance of the ‘Peace Bridge Initiative’ in establishing and upholding long-term dialogue between civil society representatives.

The second panel, moderated by Farid Shafiyev, focused on current opportunities for regional economic integration, their interlinkage with ongoing peacebuilding processes between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the potential ways in which economic cooperation and interdependence may act as peacebuilding tools in the South Caucasus. Dr. Fariz Ismayilzade, Member of Parliament, Chair of the Azerbaijan-UK Interparliamentary Friendship Group and Director of the Institute for Development and Diplomacy (IDD), highlighted Azerbaijan’s leading role in reshaping the regional agenda of the South Caucasus. In particular, he mentioned the country’s ongoing leadership in several multilateral platforms as a way of bringing stability and prosperity to the region. He noted the importance of regional projects such as the Middle Corridor in supporting peacebuilding processes, where Azerbaijan also plays a leading role.

Arzu Abbasova, Research Analyst at RUSI, outlined the tangible benefits of economic interdependence and the importance of ensuring that any regional peace is also economically viable.

During the Q&A session, Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, Vice President for the Caspian Region, Communications and External Affairs at BP, answered questions relating to regional energy projects. The remainder of the session focused on several other pressing issues on the regional agenda.