Understanding the 21st century's specific Eurasian regional security and energy security parameters in the Turkish-American relationship: A case study on South Caucasus and Central Asia

Abstract

Eurasia has been of great importance for many centuries due to its possession of strategic trade routes and energy resources. Within this context, several states within this region, as well as outside powers, have been placing unique significance to this region in their foreign policy considerations for many decades. Countries that have been placed in South Caucasia and Central Asia were ruled by Soviets until 1991 and then gained their independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Empire. After gaining independence, these states have become more important actors in global politics due to their strategic positioning in Eurasia, reemergence of frozen conflicts between them, and most importantly, the possession of huge hydrocarbon resources in this region. In that sense, Turkey, having close political, economic, cultural, and religious links with Azerbaijan, Georgia, and all Turkic speaking-Central Asian states, has been following a multi-dimensional foreign policy towards this region. The United States (U.S.) on the other hand, as the world's only superpower left, has also been attaching special importance and following multi-dimensional strategies towards South Caucasia and Central Asia within the context of its "Wider Eurasian Strategy". In addition, both Ankara and Washington pursue these multi-dimensional foreign, security, and energy policies by considering the Russian Federation's foreign, security, and energy policy priorities, since Russia is still the dominant power in the region.