A bimonthly American magazine of politics, economics, and ideas, Foreign Policy, has published a report titled "Security and Conflict in the Caucasus region, not frozen" by the Head of the Armed Forces of the United States in Europe, Gen. Mark Hertling.

The report says that "The Caucasus -- that historical causeway of conflict between Europe and the Middle East -- remains a complicated tangle of security concerns. Ethnic tensions still affect long standing territorial disputes, internally displaced indigenous people align with or oppose powerful diasporas, and an increasing nouveau riche -- an oil-fueled minority upper class -- is growing in an area once known only for desperate poverty."
Concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Hertling writes that "while the Minsk Group spearheads the OSCE's efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan both remain frustrated with the lack of political resolve."
"European Command's strategy of Theater Security Cooperation -- and USAREUR's contribution as part of that strategy in training and exercising with the militaries and engaging with military and political leaders -- is bearing significant results. The four nations (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey) that make up "the GAAT" are integrating forces in NATO out of theatre and peacekeeping operations in places like Afghanistan and Kosovo, and the potential for peaceful management of the region's substantial security challenges is improving," the author says.
"Having seen the potential for conflict, and the continued methods of resolving conflict, I am excited about the future of security and conflict resolution in the Caucuses... Each country is, in different capacities, building a base of military professionalism and reform, and is ensuring a more peaceful security for their nations.
The Caucasus' position as a geographical, cultural, and political epicenter means that movements -positive and negative -- in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan reverberate well beyond the local region. With America's continued support, the Caucuses will remain a source of stable, reliable, interoperable partners who are the foundation of future regional and global security," according to report.
Lieutenant General Mark Hertling is the current Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, where he is responsible for training U.S. Army Soldiers and units for Contingency and Full Spectrum Operations, enhancing Theater Security Cooperation, and Building Partner Capacity with 51 allied nations that are part of the European area of operation. Prior to this posting, he served as the DCG for Initial Military Training at TRADOC and previous to that the Commander of the 1st Armored Division, where the unit was deployed to Northern Iraq as Task Force Iron.

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