Bangladesh, Sept. 13 -- The South Caucasus has long been a geopolitical chessboard where great powers projected influence and pursued their rivalries. For decades, the dynamics of the region were defined by the tug-of-war between Russia, the West, and regional actors such as Iran and Türkiye. Yet, a profound shift is underway. With the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process gaining traction and Russias influence receding, a new zeitgeist is emerging-one that is being carefully read and acted upon by Türkiye and the Gulf states. Together, they are seizing a moment to recalibrate their regional policies and strengthen their presence in a part of the world once dominated by competing empires and Cold War politics.

For much of modern his...