Russia is seeking to intensify the activities of the “3+3” regional platform in an effort to maintain its diplomatic presence in the South Caucasus amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. However, Georgia's absence, deepening Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue and expanding US involvement in regional affairs raise questions about Moscow's actual ability to influence the emerging regional security architecture.

 

On November 3, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow expects another meeting in the “3+3” format to take place in the near future. The platform brings together Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, alongside Russia, Iran and Turkiye. He made the statement during the plenary session of the 4^th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security.

According to Lavrov, the participants have agreed to promote an “agenda of unity”, and the Russian side hopes to resume consultations soon. Earlier, the Russian foreign minister proposed holding the next meeting of foreign ministers in Azerbaijan, followed by another in Armenia. However, the final decision on the venue and timing of the talks will depend on coordination among the participating countries.

It should be noted that the “3+3” format was proposed by Azerbaijan and Turkiye following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Its original concept envisaged the creation of a regional platform for discussing security, economic cooperation, transport connectivity and political relations among the three South Caucasus countries and their neighbours — Russia, Iran and Turkiye. The first meeting was held in Moscow in December 2021, followed by meetings in Tehran in October 2023 and Istanbul in October 2024. However, Georgia has declined to participate in the platform despite repeated invitations.

Georgia's absence is one of the format's main structural limitations. Tbilisi is unwilling to participate in a mechanism in which Russia acts as one of the regional organisers, given Russia's continued military occupation of Georgian territories and the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries. As a result, the platform, originally designed as a mechanism for cooperation among all South Caucasus states and their neighbours, effectively operates without one of the region's three countries.

 

Against the backdrop of declining traditional Russian influence in the South Caucasus, participation in such mechanisms allows the Kremlin to maintain diplomatic channels with Baku and Yerevan, promote its own vision of regional security and seek to retain a role in key political decision-making processes. Of particular importance to Russian diplomacy is the effort to prevent the emergence of a regional cooperation framework in which Moscow would be excluded from key developments.

The resumption of the “3+3” format could help sustain diplomatic dialogue, but it does not in itself guarantee the establishment of an effective regional security system.

#ARMENIA

#GEORGIA

#RUSSIA

#NEWS

#IRAN

#AZERBAIJAN

#TURKIYE

03.11.2026 02:56