Dr. Brenda Shaffer testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on Europe during a hearing titled “The Caucasus and Caspian Region: Understanding U.S. Interests and Policy.” The hearing examined the strategic importance of the Caucasus and Caspian regions to U.S. foreign policy, including issues related to energy security, regional stability, and geopolitical competition.
In her testimony, Dr. Shaffer addressed the political, economic, and security dynamics shaping the Caucasus and Caspian regions, including the importance of energy resources, pipeline routes, relations among regional powers, and the implications of U.S. engagement in the region. She discussed the strategic significance of Azerbaijan and other states in the region and the challenges facing U.S. policy in an area influenced by competing interests from Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other regional actors.