37
energy diplomacy focused on the production and export of natural gas. The main
developments in the second phase of Caspian energy diplomacy involved various
projects. The first of these is in preparations for Azerbaijan to produce and export
gas through a new pipeline sourced in the Shah Deniz II field. The second lies in
Turkmenistan, with a new natural gas production project, with the potential addition
or extension of pipelines. The third regards increasing the oil production of
Kazakhstan, with the increased production and initiation of exports in natural gas
(Shaffer 2010:7210–7212).
Literature on US, China, and Russia Policy Toward Central
Asia
According to Ambassador Richard Morningstar, “US former Special Envoy for
Eurasian Energy,” the main pillars of US strategy toward Eurasian energy are firstly,
to encourage the development of new energy resources and promotion of efficiency
in the use of all. Regional energy resources and new production of oil and gas will
contribute to meeting the growing demands of the world energy market. Secondly,
the US is interested in helping Europe in its quest to rely less on Russian gas imports.
Thirdly, the US seeks to help Central Asia and Caspian countries find new transit
routes to world markets (European and Eurasian Energy 2011:13.14).
Governments in exporting countries can increase their power and influence
abroad by increasing or decreasing extraction or exports of energy resources and
affect international markets. The best example is the use of energy resources to
increase foreign influence on the behavior of governments in the Persian Gulf region
and in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and its ruling regime have strategic value for the
United States. The United States enjoys the sanctions imposed by “Arab countries;
OPEC,” led by Saudi Arabia in 1973, increased its foreign influence (Yergin
1993:683–684).
In 1995, the US for the first time announced the “multiple pipeline policy.” This
policy aimed to increase energy security to the US and its European allies by diversifying world energy supplies, eliminating the energy monopolies upon which all
the region states were dependent, and create opportunities for US companies; all
while providing geopolitically beneficial support for emerging nations of the
Caspian Sea, Central Asia, and the Caucasus along with NATO (and more specifically, Turkey) (Implementation of U.S. policy on Caspian Sea oil exports 1998:5–6).
To serve these aims the US continued expanding its relations with Caspian Sea
nations; promoting democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and
investment and trade in the region. The US also helped countries create the legal
frameworks necessary for a free market economy, preparing those countries for
accession to join the World Trade Organization. The US simultaneously expanded
security cooperation with Central Asia and Caucasus states (“Implementation of
U.S. policy on Caspian Sea oil exports” 1998:5–6).
Literature on US, China, and Russia Policy Toward Central Asia
energy diplomacy focused on the production and export of natural gas. The main
developments in the second phase of Caspian energy diplomacy involved various
projects. The first of these is in preparations for Azerbaijan to produce and export
gas through a new pipeline sourced in the Shah Deniz II field. The second lies in
Turkmenistan, with a new natural gas production project, with the potential addition
or extension of pipelines. The third regards increasing the oil production of
Kazakhstan, with the increased production and initiation of exports in natural gas
(Shaffer 2010:7210–7212).
Literature on US, China, and Russia Policy Toward Central
Asia
According to Ambassador Richard Morningstar, “US former Special Envoy for
Eurasian Energy,” the main pillars of US strategy toward Eurasian energy are firstly,
to encourage the development of new energy resources and promotion of efficiency
in the use of all. Regional energy resources and new production of oil and gas will
contribute to meeting the growing demands of the world energy market. Secondly,
the US is interested in helping Europe in its quest to rely less on Russian gas imports.
Thirdly, the US seeks to help Central Asia and Caspian countries find new transit
routes to world markets (European and Eurasian Energy 2011:13.14).
Governments in exporting countries can increase their power and influence
abroad by increasing or decreasing extraction or exports of energy resources and
affect international markets. The best example is the use of energy resources to
increase foreign influence on the behavior of governments in the Persian Gulf region
and in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and its ruling regime have strategic value for the
United States. The United States enjoys the sanctions imposed by “Arab countries;
OPEC,” led by Saudi Arabia in 1973, increased its foreign influence (Yergin
1993:683–684).
In 1995, the US for the first time announced the “multiple pipeline policy.” This
policy aimed to increase energy security to the US and its European allies by diversifying world energy supplies, eliminating the energy monopolies upon which all
the region states were dependent, and create opportunities for US companies; all
while providing geopolitically beneficial support for emerging nations of the
Caspian Sea, Central Asia, and the Caucasus along with NATO (and more specifically, Turkey) (Implementation of U.S. policy on Caspian Sea oil exports 1998:5–6).
To serve these aims the US continued expanding its relations with Caspian Sea
nations; promoting democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and
investment and trade in the region. The US also helped countries create the legal
frameworks necessary for a free market economy, preparing those countries for
accession to join the World Trade Organization. The US simultaneously expanded
security cooperation with Central Asia and Caucasus states (“Implementation of
U.S. policy on Caspian Sea oil exports” 1998:5–6).
Literature on US, China, and Russia Policy Toward Central Asia