Energy, economics, and security in central Asia: Russia and its rivals

Technical Report · Mon Apr 10 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:147413

Blank, S J

Five Central Asian states emerged out of the Soviet Union`s Central Asian republics in 1991. Although U.S. policy makers presumed that Iran would inevitably sweep them into its sphere of influence, this has not happened. Nor is it likely to occur. Instead there has developed a multistate competition for influence and even control of these new states. This competition involves Russia as the leading force in the area and Moscow`s main rivals are Turkey, Iran, Pakistan (and India), China, and the United States. This rivalry is particularly strong in the struggle among these states to gain positions of leverage over the energy economy, i.e. production, pipelines, and refining in Central Asia because this region is blessed with enormous energy deposits. These deposits are crucial to Central Asia`s integration with the world economy and economic progress. Indeed, energy exports may be the only way these governments can hope for any economic stability and progress in the future.

• Research Organization: Army War Coll., Carlisle Barracks, PA (United States). Strategic Studies Inst.
• OSTI ID: 147413
• Report Number(s): AD-A--296791/7/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EASTERN EUROPE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FOREIGN POLICY
FOSSIL FUELS
INDIA
IRAN
KAZAKHSTAN
NATIONAL SECURITY
PAKISTAN
RESOURCE EXPLOITATION
TAJIKISTAN
TURKEY
TURKMENISTAN
UZBEKISTAN