Geopolitics and the Functional Linkage Capacities of Iran and Georgia
The Islamic Republic of Iran and Georgia, as countries endowed with geopolitical advantages, are compelled to expand their regional and international interactions. Unfortunately, despite functional capabilities and complementary roles, the functional linkage capacities of the two countries have not yet been practically considered. This paper seeks to answer the question of whether Iran can, by relying on geopolitical realities and capabilities, establish a functional linkage with Georgia. According to the findings of this research, twelve factors have hindered the realization of such a linkage; however, Iran and Georgia can, by making use of geopolitical, geocultural, and geoeconomic realities and capabilities, establish a functional connection based on a model of interaction with one another and overcome the aforementioned obstacles. This is because the two countries, through a complementary geopolitical perspective, can bring latent capacities into fruition. Iran is the center of gravity of the Middle East, and on the other hand, Georgia is the only country in the Caucasus region with access to open waters. These two countries, by revisiting bilateral relations and creating a triangle of Iran, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, can, while solving the problem of geographical disconnection, lay the foundations of a small and efficient regional pact by establishing communication and transit lines and paying attention to shared economic capacities, and with the idea of founding this interregional structure, place their own challenges and those of the South Caucasus region on the path toward resolution.
The full text of the article can be viewed at the link:
