Author(s): Stefana Rafaela Erneanou
This paper aims το present the underlying factors in the conflict between Russia and Georgia and the role played by the EU and USA. Firstly we briefly identify factors and policies that gradually escalated Western-Russian rivalry since 1990s. Then it will analyze how the political and economic balance achieved by Russia in the mid 2000 influenced its external politics. A main objective was to stop Georgia’s ambitions of further tightening its relations with the West, in particular its bid to join western organizations such as NATO. A particular emphasis will be placed on Russia’s strategy towards the so-called “de facto” states of the southern Caucasus, Southern Ossetia and Abkhazia.