‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Abstract The present study examines the geopolitical challenges of exploiting oil and gas resources in the Caspian Sea between Iran and Turkmenistan. The primary research question is what factors underlie the energy differences between the two countries and whether these differences are solely due to legal issues or are also influenced by national interests and pressure from transregional actors. The research hypothesis is based on the fact that existing geopolitical challenges are the result of a complex interaction among the legal structure, conflicting national interests, and competition between regional and transregional actors. The research method combines analytical and qualitative approaches, utilizing document content analysis and a review of specialized books and articles. Data were collected from written sources, agreements, Caspian conventions, and scientific articles and were examined based on three levels of analysis (structural, national and regional, and transregional). The findings show that the Caspian’s legal ambiguities, the pressure of sanctions and internal Iranian restrictions, Turkmenistan’s export strategies, and the influence of Russia, China, and the United States have all contributed to the persistence and intensification of disputes. These results confirm the research hypothesis and indicate that sustainable management of Caspian energy resources requires a combined approach of joint agreements, active diplomacy, and strengthening domestic capacity.

Abstract Although Turkey has no energy resources, it has long sought to become an energy hub in the region. However, as Europe terminated the South Stream pipeline contract in response to the Ukrainian crisis, Russia's proposal to establish the Turkish Stream Pipeline will have a major impact on achieving this goal.There are many questions about the reasons and consequences of the establishment of the Turkish Stream Pipeline at the domestic, regional and international levels. The present paper seeks to find an appropriate answer to the following fundamental question from a regional perspective: How the new Russian-Turkish energy relations, in particular the Turkish Stream Pipeline, affect the geopolitics of energy in Central Eurasia? In response, the following hypothesis is tested: The new Russian-Turkish energy relations, and in particular the Turkish Stream Pipeline, through changing energy game in the Russian-European-Turkish triangle and reducing the security dimensions of the energy issue in Central Eurasia will help creating geopolitical energy balance in Central Eurasia and between Central Eurasia and Europe in favor of economic dimensions. The findings of the paper also confirm the hypothesis showing relative strengthening of the process of de-securitization of energy relations in Central Eurasia, among the Central Eurasian countries and with Europe as a result of the expansion of Russia-Turkey energy relations, what reinforces marginal actors and creates geopolitical energy balance in the region. This paper utilizes a descriptive-analytical methodology and library resources.