Vasil Sikharulidze, Ph.D., a distinguished Marshall Center alumnus and the second Alumni Scholar of 2025, presented his research in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on March 20, 2025.

"My presentation was about strategic connectivity and its role in enhancing Euro-Atlantic security, particularly by reducing Russian influence in the Black Sea region and Central Asia,” he said. “Enhancing strategic connectivity improves integration and cooperation between Europe, Central Asia, and [the] South Caucasus. It is a crucial component in today’s geopolitical landscape."

A former minister of defense and ambassador of Georgia to the U.S., Sikharulidze has spent his career at the intersection of diplomacy, security, and education.

“The Marshall Center plays a critical role in bringing together professionals from different countries in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond,” Sikharulidze said. “It facilitates the exchange of ideas on security issues. It also has a strong academic foundation and a tradition of working in the security studies field.

"Given today’s complex security environment in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic region, its role is even more significant.”

Currently, Sikharulidze directs the Master’s Program in Security at Alte University, lectures at Ilia State University, and serves as a senior fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Eurasia Program.

"Every time I attend seminars or conferences here, the topics are highly relevant and important to my work," he said.

Sikharulidze is the ninth Alumni Scholar from Georgia, and the 111th overall since the program began in 2004.

The Alumni Scholar Program prioritizes research that addresses the complex security challenges of our time and reflects topics of strategic relevance to the Marshall Center and its partners.