On 6 September 2026, Topchubashov Center hosted a panel at the Sarajevo Security Conference 2026, bringing together experts to discuss the changing geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus.

Titled "South Caucasus Between Two Fires: Regional Stability Amid the Russia–Ukraine War and Iran Crisis" and moderated by Rusif Huseynov, Topchubashov Center`s Director, the discussion featured Matthew Bryza, former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan and Managing Director at Straife; Mike Doran, Director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at Hudson Institute; and Damjan Krnjevic Miskovic, Director for Policy Research, Analysis, and Publications at the Institute for Development and Diplomacy (IDD). 

The panel examined on how Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are rethinking their foreign policies and regional alignments amid the Russia–Ukraine war and the Iran crisis and vis-a-vis great powers. The speakers also discussed efforts to strengthen sovereignty and strategic agency, while highlighting the growing role of connectivity projects in reshaping the region’s strategic environment. Particular attention was given to Azerbaijan’s growing geopolitical importance and its role in shaping the emerging regional order.