Cautiousness in the Caucasus: Azerbaijan and Armenia clash
Sep 14, 2022
auto_awesome
In this discussion, Piotr Zalewski, The Economist's Turkey correspondent, and Greg Karlstrom, the Middle East correspondent, tackle the resurgence of tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, linked to historical conflicts and the shifting influence of Russia. They explore how Azerbaijan's ambitions are bolstered by rising oil prices and what this means for the region. The conversation also touches on the new economic dynamics in Gulf countries, questioning whether they will invest responsibly or indulge in lavish spending.
A conflict smouldering since a war in 2020 has again caught alight; Azerbaijan may feel emboldened by a distracted Russia and its own energy prospects. Gulf countries are swimming in piles of unexpected, oil-derived cash: we ask whether they will sock it away or splurge on citizens and pet projects. And why many Lebanese couples are choosing to wed online.