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© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
O. Shokri Kalehsar, US Energy Diplomacy in the Caspian Sea Basin,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66929-4_3
Chapter 3
International Context of the New Era
and the Caspian Sea Region
Abstract The geopolitical importance of the Caspian region is also based on the
existence of energy resources in this region. Security is a vital need for the uninterrupted and continuous transfer of Caspian oil and gas. The Caspian Sea region
(South Caucasus and Central Asia) has 3–4% of the world’s oil reserves and 4–6%
of the world’s gas reserves. The share of the Caspian Sea in the world’s oil and gas
resources is not significant. However, in the face of uncertainty over the flow of oil
production and supply from the Persian Gulf, as well as the possibility that Russia
may use energy delivery as a tool of power, the transfer of energy from the Caspian
Sea and Central Asia (Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) to the West via the Caucasus
has become vital.
In this chapter, the energy policy of the Caspian littoral states, along with the
energy policy of regional and global powers, toward the energy resources of the
Caspian Sea has been studied. Increasing China’s presence and influence in Central
Asia and the Caspian Sea and its use of the investment element in the energy infrastructure of the Caspian littoral states have been studied. The role of energy resources
in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea in the One Belt Road project is one of the most
important international issues that need to be studied. China’s vast financial
resources have enabled it to overtake rivals economically in a major new game in
Central Asia. China seeks to increase its political and economic presence and influence in Asia Minor and the Caspian Sea by establishing numerous financial
institutions.
Keywords New Great Game · China · Russia · Energy Policy · Shanghai
Cooperation Organization · One Road One Belt
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
O. Shokri Kalehsar, US Energy Diplomacy in the Caspian Sea Basin,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66929-4_3
Chapter 3
International Context of the New Era
and the Caspian Sea Region
Abstract The geopolitical importance of the Caspian region is also based on the
existence of energy resources in this region. Security is a vital need for the uninterrupted and continuous transfer of Caspian oil and gas. The Caspian Sea region
(South Caucasus and Central Asia) has 3–4% of the world’s oil reserves and 4–6%
of the world’s gas reserves. The share of the Caspian Sea in the world’s oil and gas
resources is not significant. However, in the face of uncertainty over the flow of oil
production and supply from the Persian Gulf, as well as the possibility that Russia
may use energy delivery as a tool of power, the transfer of energy from the Caspian
Sea and Central Asia (Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) to the West via the Caucasus
has become vital.
In this chapter, the energy policy of the Caspian littoral states, along with the
energy policy of regional and global powers, toward the energy resources of the
Caspian Sea has been studied. Increasing China’s presence and influence in Central
Asia and the Caspian Sea and its use of the investment element in the energy infrastructure of the Caspian littoral states have been studied. The role of energy resources
in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea in the One Belt Road project is one of the most
important international issues that need to be studied. China’s vast financial
resources have enabled it to overtake rivals economically in a major new game in
Central Asia. China seeks to increase its political and economic presence and influence in Asia Minor and the Caspian Sea by establishing numerous financial
institutions.
Keywords New Great Game · China · Russia · Energy Policy · Shanghai
Cooperation Organization · One Road One Belt