Türkiye and the 3+3 Regional Cooperation Platform: Evolving Geopolitical Dynamics in the South Caucasus

The 3+3 Regional Cooperation Platform, which includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia together with their neighboring states Iran, Russia, and Türkiye, was established in 2021 with the goal of developing regional dialogue and addressing the complicated challenges that have emerged in the South Caucasus in the post-Cold War period. While the ongoing disputes between the members pose some obstacles to establishing a comprehensive partnership in the region, it is noteworthy that three meetings have already been held within this framework. This article examines Türkiye’s role in the 3+3 platform with a particular focus on its strategic partnership with Azerbaijan. It argues that the platform, which could be regarded as an informal international organization due to its flexible and non-binding structure, serves as an important instrument for supporting Türkiye’s policies toward the South Caucasus. These policies are based on two intertwined principles: the resolution of problems through a “regional ownership” approach, which has also been applied successfully in the Black Sea region since the 1990s, and the maintenance of a geopolitical balance between the West, Russia and Iran. Türkiye’s potential contribution to the 3+3 platform can be understood from three perspectives. First, Türkiye’s position allows it to serve as a bridge between the 3+3 platform and Georgia, which has so far been reluctant to join the meetings. Second, Türkiye has a long history of acting as a mediator in various regions, including the Balkans and the Middle East, which provides Ankara with valuable diplomatic experience that can be applied to the South Caucasus within the 3+3 framework. Third, as the only NATO member in the platform, Türkiye plays a unique role in mitigating the geopolitical tensions between the West and Russia in the region.

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