4. South Caucasus as a Regional Security Complex: Divergence of Identity and Interdependence of Security Farhad Mammadov, Azad Garibov Tree former Soviet states, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, are widely perceived as a single region – the South Caucasus (SC), located at the juncture of Asia and Europe. However, a closer look reveals that the South Caucasus has never been a true “region”, as it lacks the common features that would qualify it as such. In fact, despite being called a region, they have three diferent foreign policy identities; the three coun- tries have neither developed common and inclusive economic and security cooperation, nor established any kind of regional integration framework. Nor do they share a common culture, language or religion, and have never been a part of the same civilisation. Two of the three countries of the region – Armenia and Azerbaijan – are at war with one another, due to Armenia’s occupation of 20% of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised territory. Separatist sentiments in the Georgian Samtskhe- Javakheti region, supported by nationalists in Armenia, have from time to time generated fears of an additional inter-state confict within the region. Te three countries have also made divergent and sometimes conficting foreign alliance and align- ment choices, further deepening divisions within the “region”. Armenia is a close Russian ally and CSTO member; Georgia orients its foreign policy towards the United States and Europe; while Azerbaijan is allied to Turkey, and cooperates with both Russia and the United States pursuing a multi-vector, pragmat- ic and balanced foreign policy.