Central Asia and Central Asia and Caspian Sea Region: The Great Game Rivalry

Abstract

All of a sudden, in the post-Soviet era, Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region has become the focal point of international attention. Not that political instability, ethnic insurgence and rise of Islamic fundamentalism are the factors for drawing world attention but it is the huge reserve of untapped hydrocarbon resources which has catapulted this region into focus. Obviously, a scramble has begun with the erstwhile master of this region—Russia and extra-regional players like the US and the West, Turkey, Iran and China. Balancing the major external players in this region has become both a survival strategy and a means to reach developmental goals for the, Caspian littoral states of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in Central Asia and Azerbaijan in the Caucasus along with Uzbekistan, which is not a Caspian littoral but a major gas producing state of Central Asia. Therefore, what has emerged in the present [scenario] situation is a Great Game Rivalry. This paper will try to highlight the major clash of interests of the key players in the Central Asia and Caspian Sea Region and the ensuing reactions of the Caspian littoral states of Central Asia.