Russia's Policy in the Caspian Region (Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues)

This book investigates the policy of Russia on the Caspian and in the nearby territories from old times to the beginning of the present millennium, thus, spanning several centuries. The book also discusses the motivations of the rulers of Rus', Moscow State, Russian Empire, the USSR and later on, Russia that pursued active foreign policy targeted to extension of the geopolitical influence and strengthening of the economic presence in the near-Caspian territories and on the Caspian Sea proper. The main stages of formation of the Russian foreign policy are studied. The causes underlying the rivalry of Russia with Persia and Turkey, Central Asian Khanates and European states for the leading positions on the Caspian are analysed. The authors describe the mechanisms used by Russia in its foreign policy with regard to the established political and economic conditions. Much attention is focused on the analysis of Russia's foreign policy in the Caspian region after disintegration of the USSR when the situation on the Caspian had changed drastically. Formerly there were two Caspian states -- USSR and Iran, but now three new independent states appeared (ie: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan) which immediately became the focus of interest of non-regional states and leading oil and gas companies. This book describes how the policy of Russia has been changing in the face of a new geopolitical situation in the Caspian region. The approaches of Russia to addressing the regional problems, first of all, the international legal status of the Caspian Sea, hydrocarbon production and transportation, militarisation and ecology, etc. are analysed. All these factors urged Russia to develop new approaches towards the Caspian region. The book investigates the effect of the foreign policy of new Caspian states, the USA, EU and China on the Caspian policy of Russia. The complicated geopolitical situation on the Caspian and unceasing attention to its hydrocarbon resources force Russia to keep a close watch on the Caspian region that remains the main vector of the Russian foreign policy. Review Considering the specifics of the geographical and geopolitical location of the Caspian region, the features of the Russia policy there are revealed. There is a rich concentration of mineral and natural resources in the Caspian region, and new transport routes are actively operating. New routes can be realized there as well. All these factors are fully reflected in this book. - Dr Igor S. Zonn, Professor at The Moscow Sergei Witte University, Moscow The book reflects the policy of Russia in the Caspian in the scientific field. The author convincingly showed that Russias efforts in that area have played a significant role in developing common approaches to environmental safety, and protection of the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea. - Dr Andrey G. Kostianoy, Professor at the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow The monograph is not the authors first work devoted to Russian politics in the Caspian. In his book, the author explores the issues of the energy policy of Russia in the Caspian region, the features of its cooperation with the Caspian countries. The greatest interest presents the last part of the book, which reveals the current stage of the Caspian policy of Russia. Particularly, it demonstrates how Russia has managed to retain its influence as the most important transit country for Caspian oil and gas. Thanks to Russias efforts, a compromise approach in adopting the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in August 2018 was developed. - Dr Mark A. Neimark, Professor at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Moscow About the Author Sergey Zhiltsov (Professor of Post-Soviet Foreign Policy, Head of the Department of Political Science and Political Philosophy, Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Ministry, Russian Federa