‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Abstract The Caspian region's strategic investment potential, energy reserves, and geo-economic significance have garnered attention from both regional and global powers. Among these, China, a trans-regional force, has displayed a keen interest in the region, employing a strategic blend of economic and energy diplomacy. By prioritizing the implementation of the One Belt - One Road initiative for investments and application, and subsequently emphasizing energy diplomacy, China has sought to bolster its economic diplomacy in the Caspian region. This article delves into China's economic diplomacy approach in the Caspian region, particularly concentrating on Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. Employing a mixed-methods research approach encompassing both qualitative and quantitative analysis, this study examines the pivotal success factors underpinning China's diplomatic efforts in the region. The investigation reveals that China's economic diplomacy hinges on the One Belt - One Road initiative, with energy diplomacy integral to its execution. Notably, the foundation of China's successful diplomatic model lies in the cultivation of mutual trust and the pursuit of mutually beneficial outcomes.                                                        

Abstract In recent two decades, Turkey has consolidated its presence in Central Asian countries and played an active role in political and cultural spheres in this region. Through cultural and ethnic ties and also reconstructing their economies structurally, Turkey has been able to extend its influence in Central Asian countries. The main question of the research addresses the purposes and implications of Turkey’s presence in Central Asia and for answering the main question, this hypothesis has been tested that Turkey is trying to create the organization of Turkish speaking countries in order to promote its political, security, and cultural influence and avoid lagging behind Iran and Russia. Data gathering method has been document-based, research strategy has been deductive, and research methodology has been based on process detection inspired by economic diplomacy literature within the realist theory. The findings of the research indicate that the main purposes of Turkey for promoting economic diplomacy in Central Asia are as follows: rivalry with Iran and Russia, establishing the council of Turkish-speaking countries, changing its geopolitical position, diversification of its energy resources, military cooperation, security issues, and etc.

Abstract The economic relations of Iran and the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union have been in recent years influenced by factors such as the international sanctions, lack of a complementary economic relation, Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union’s members’ dependence on sales of raw materials and energy and geo-economic competition. The US re-imposition of sanctions following Trump administration’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and imposition of economic restrictions, especially in the international trade area, made Iran’s look pivot toward broadening economic ties with its neighbors. Within this framework, the Eurasian Economic Union, due to its low volume of economic relations with the US and the Russian foundations’ dominance over the union, has an appropriate capacity for expanding economic diplomacy, especially under sanctions. The Islamic Republic of Iran, with concluding preferential trade contracts, is trying to compensate for the restrictions created by the US sanctions. The main question of this paper is that, what opportunities does the economic diplomacy of Iran put ahead of the Iranian economy under the sanctions conditions? In this regard, this presumption is put to test that Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union’s economic diplomacy provides grounds for strategic cooperation between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union in the long term by opening a new trade space through reducing tariffs, using the existing capacities of the union and by circumventing  the economic sanctions. The method used in this paper is based on causal explanation as well as collecting information by use of first-hand sources and analysis of the country’s officials’ interviews.

Abstract Economic relations between Iran and Eurasian Economic Union member states in recent years have been affected by factors such as international sanctions, lack of complementary economic relations, dependence of Iran and Eurasian Economic Union members on raw material and energy sales, and geoeconomic competition. The re-imposition of US sanctions following the withdrawal of the Trump administration from the UN Security Council and the imposition of economic restrictions, especially on international trade, has expanded Iran's view of developing economic ties with its neighbors.In this context, the Eurasian Economic Union has a good capacity to expand bilateral relations, especially in the face of sanctions, due to the low volume of economic relations with the United States and the dominance of Russian institutions over the union.The Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to offset US sanctions restrictions by concluding a preferential trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. The main question of the present article is that what opportunities does the preferential trade agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union face for the Iranian economy in the face of sanctions?In this regard, the hypothesis is tested that the trade cooperation between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union to open a new business environment by reducing tariffs, using the existing capacities in the union and the conditions for circumventing economic sanctions, the bases of strategic cooperation Provides Iran and the Union in the long run.

Abstract Due to its cultural and civilizational relations and geopolitical importance in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Central Asia has always been under attention of Iran’s economic diplomacy goals, since the collapse of the Soviet Union.  During the 25 year independency of Central Asian countries, the dominant dimension of Iran’s foreign policy behavior toward this region has been influenced by geopolitical discourse and therefore has been pragmatist and interest oriented. The eleventh administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the framework of moderation discourse and its economic oriented foreign policy, has paid especial attention to expanding its economic relations with Central Asian Republics. The present article attempts to find out the achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s economic diplomacy in Central Asia and also the reason of prioritization of economic diplomacy in the eleventh administration. The following hypothesis guides this study: Although during last two decades, pragmatist politics, derived from Iran’s geopolitical discourse in Central Asia, has lead to the expansion of economic relations in the region, the cooperative and development oriented nature of the moderation discourse as well as the necessities of Iran’s twenty – year vision plan and its resilient economy has prioritized the economic diplomacy in Iran’s foreign policy towards Central Asia. While scrutinizing Iran’s economic diplomacy in Central Asia, the authors attempt to assess the significance of economic diplomacy in the eleventh administration. Using explanatory – analyzing research method, the authors try to tell why the research findings provide an answer to the research question.

Abstract China’s neighboring of and shared borders with Central Asian countries, coupled with its rapid economic growth, has imposed certain conditions on the relations between China and the aforementioned countries. The bilateral relations between China and the regional countries are not exempt from Beijing’s global economic policies. In addition to common geopolitics and the importance of this region for China, Beijing has given much importance to the continuation and expansion of its relation with the regional countries in the economic area. China's goal is to preserve social and political stability in the country, especially in the bordering regions like Xin Jiang. USA’s influence in the Central Asia after the 9/11 has been an undesirable reality for the Chinese and its general strategy concerning the neighboring countries. All these factors have influenced China’s foreign policy and its goals and interests in Central Asia. Therefore, this article has been trying to explore and explain the different aspects of China’s foreign policy in Central Asia.