Nauru is a tiny unremarkable-looking island off the coast of Australia and has, for decades, backed Russia in what is an unlikely diplomatic friendship.
The pending appeal of Eduard Kokoity, leader of the secessionistterritory of South Ossetia, to the Russian Federation'sConstitutional Court to allow his territory to join Mother Russiacould trigger destabilization in the Caucasus, sparking aRussian-Georgian military confrontation and unpredictableconsequences for the region and the world.
After the Kremlin-backed candidate appears to lose at polls, the Supreme Court overturns the results. But Alla Dzhioyeva, who took 56% of the vote, won’t go down without a fight.
It is time for the U.S. to launch a coordinated policy effort inthe Black Sea area to gain support for addressing such pressingissues as the rise of Iran, WMD proliferation, cooperation in thewar on terrorism, and energy security, but the U.S. also needs totread lightly, offering support where possible and backing offwhere necessary.