142
of oil contracts, with the first US investment in the Soviet oil industry taking place
in the Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan with Chevron in 1989. Although efforts to
gain a commercial, and thus political foothold in the region extended throughout the
1990s, the US presence in the region occurred only in light of the September 11
attacks in 2001. Previously, US interests extended to preventing the resumption of
the historical influence of Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran from the region.
and thus in principle, to control the energy resources in the region. However, given
the extremely security-minded approach which prevailed after 9/11, the United
States placed military forces in Kyrgyzstan and entrenched its position in Uzbekistan
while visits by US military leaders continued unabated, especially in Kyrgyzstan
and Uzbekistan, to highlight the importance of these countries within the new security regime (www.alwaght.com 2018).
Although Central Asia was always formerly referred to as “a geostrategic region”
geo-economic goals also soon began to develop around this time, since the region
shares a common border with Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran. The transformation of Central Asia into the penetration zone has ignited the interests of these
surrounding powers since. Every power brings control of the neighboring countries
of the region, in terms of both security and military purposes. Furthermore, the
Caspian Sea states to the west of the region are vast in oil reserves. In addition to its
vast reserves and natural resources, this region is strategically poised to link the East
and the West, or, in other words, oil-producing and consuming countries.
After September 11, the Central Asian region suddenly became very important
for the United States. Security lay at the heart of this renewed interest. If Central
Asian countries were unwilling to put their foot on the right track, it was imagined
that they may become a haven for such terrorist movements as those that forged the
attacks on the United States that year. This view is evidenced by countless statements from administration officials during the Bush years. In this regard, many
believe that the military and political presence of the United States in this region for
many years to be continued in the region may continue for years to come (Abolhasan
Shirazi 2007:15).
Afghanistan has a key role to play in the US plans to maintain control of a large
portion of landlocked oil and gas reserves in Central Asia. This seemingly geoeconomic- specific goal has a geopolitical motivation at its core: the withdrawal of
Central Asian oil regimes from the Russian sphere of influence concludes in the
strengthening of those of the United States in the region while also preventing the
regional expansion of Iran by preventing a Turkmenistan-Iran gas connection.
Another key point was to ensure the diversification of US oil and gas resources
while helping keep prices low, profits for construction companies high, and producing a further basis for future economic prosperity and thus political stability in the
region (Bayvardi et al. 2013:23).
After 9/11, regional states had certain assumptions about their cooperation with
the US. They hoped that Washington’s engagement in the region would help provide
peace, stability, and security. However, only 5 years after 9/11 they were disappointed to find that security threats and challenges continue to dog the region (www.
rferl.org 2018). The increasing energy demand of the US meant Washington was
4 George W. Bush Energy Diplomacy
of oil contracts, with the first US investment in the Soviet oil industry taking place
in the Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan with Chevron in 1989. Although efforts to
gain a commercial, and thus political foothold in the region extended throughout the
1990s, the US presence in the region occurred only in light of the September 11
attacks in 2001. Previously, US interests extended to preventing the resumption of
the historical influence of Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran from the region.
and thus in principle, to control the energy resources in the region. However, given
the extremely security-minded approach which prevailed after 9/11, the United
States placed military forces in Kyrgyzstan and entrenched its position in Uzbekistan
while visits by US military leaders continued unabated, especially in Kyrgyzstan
and Uzbekistan, to highlight the importance of these countries within the new security regime (www.alwaght.com 2018).
Although Central Asia was always formerly referred to as “a geostrategic region”
geo-economic goals also soon began to develop around this time, since the region
shares a common border with Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran. The transformation of Central Asia into the penetration zone has ignited the interests of these
surrounding powers since. Every power brings control of the neighboring countries
of the region, in terms of both security and military purposes. Furthermore, the
Caspian Sea states to the west of the region are vast in oil reserves. In addition to its
vast reserves and natural resources, this region is strategically poised to link the East
and the West, or, in other words, oil-producing and consuming countries.
After September 11, the Central Asian region suddenly became very important
for the United States. Security lay at the heart of this renewed interest. If Central
Asian countries were unwilling to put their foot on the right track, it was imagined
that they may become a haven for such terrorist movements as those that forged the
attacks on the United States that year. This view is evidenced by countless statements from administration officials during the Bush years. In this regard, many
believe that the military and political presence of the United States in this region for
many years to be continued in the region may continue for years to come (Abolhasan
Shirazi 2007:15).
Afghanistan has a key role to play in the US plans to maintain control of a large
portion of landlocked oil and gas reserves in Central Asia. This seemingly geoeconomic- specific goal has a geopolitical motivation at its core: the withdrawal of
Central Asian oil regimes from the Russian sphere of influence concludes in the
strengthening of those of the United States in the region while also preventing the
regional expansion of Iran by preventing a Turkmenistan-Iran gas connection.
Another key point was to ensure the diversification of US oil and gas resources
while helping keep prices low, profits for construction companies high, and producing a further basis for future economic prosperity and thus political stability in the
region (Bayvardi et al. 2013:23).
After 9/11, regional states had certain assumptions about their cooperation with
the US. They hoped that Washington’s engagement in the region would help provide
peace, stability, and security. However, only 5 years after 9/11 they were disappointed to find that security threats and challenges continue to dog the region (www.
rferl.org 2018). The increasing energy demand of the US meant Washington was
4 George W. Bush Energy Diplomacy