T he Maharana Pratap Annual Geopolitical Conference organized by the Usanas Foundation was held in Jaipur, India between February 14-15. 

This annual conference is an important platform, where experts from various countries discuss urgent issues of current geopolitics and present their countries' positions on security, infrastructure, economic cooperation, and peace.  

The representatives from Armenia were also among the participants, providing valuable insights into discussions on infrastructure development and stability in the Caucasus and Middle East regions. 

The event was attended by Vahagn Afyan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to India, Gor Tsarukyan, Director of the Public Relations and Information Center of the Prime Minister’s Office, and Mikayel Yalanuzyan, Coordinator of the Orbeli Analytical Center.  

Ambassador Vahagn Afyan emphasized Armenia’s readiness to actively engage in regional processes and cooperate with international partners, highlighting Armenia’s commitment to contributing to peace and regional stability. He stated that the Crossroads of Peace project is an opportunity to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, contributing to the economic development and stability of the region.

Gor Tsarukyan, Director of the Public Relations and Information Center of the Prime Minister’s Office, in turn, addressed the issues related to the development of regional strategic infrastructure, emphasizing the role of its implementation in promoting peace. He stated that the infrastructure development can become a guideline to new cooperative models and strategies, ultimately contributing to long-term stability in the Transcaucasian region. The IPRC director presented the Crossroads of Peace initiative in detail, explained the main directions of infrastructure development, economic efficiency and their importance for both the north-south and east-west international routes. He noted that the Crossroads of Peace project can provide investments in the field of infrastructure, creating conditions for close cooperation between different countries and regions.

The importance of developing expert thought was also discussed during the discussions. Mikayel Yalanuzyan, Coordinator of the Orbeli Analytical Center, highlighted the main challenges analytical centers face today. He also noted that expert centers as analytical and research platforms, play a crucial role not only in shaping state policy but also in fostering public professional discussions. In this context, the importance of cooperation of analytical centers with international partners was underscored. This can be an important step towards enabling foreign experts to implement joint programs and seek effective solutions in complex geopolitical conditions. 

Benyamin Poghosyan, a senior expert at the LIVE Armenia analytical center, who also participated in the event, addressed issues of terrorism and the geopolitical significance of our region. He discussed Armenia’s potential role in the North-South International Transport Corridor, linking India to Europe through Iran, Armenia and Georgia. He noted that India is taking steps to create alternative cargo routes with Europe and Armenia has opportunities to participate in these processes.  

The conference demonstrated the importance of regional cooperation and work in international platforms for professional discussions.