US role diminishes in the Caucasus

Well known journalist and analyst, specialist in Caucasus issues, Thomas de Waal thinks that current president of Russia Vladimir Putin’s visit in Azerbaijan has not cardinally changed the strategic balance in the Caucasus. Putin, during the visit tried to avoid comments on the Karabak issue, as Russians did not achieve their goal in participating in natural-gas projects on Azeri territory. De Waal thinks that this visit was a chance for Baku to highlight its importance in the Caucasus region and on the other hand this is a hint for Armenia to enter the Customs Union. De Waal thinks that the visit showed that the U.S. role in the Caucasus has diminished.