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RUSSIA AND THE U.S. IN CENTRAL ASIA AND THE CAUCASUS: A SEARCH FOR REGIONAL STABILITYIgor ZONN
Sergey ZHILTSOV
Igor Zonn, D.Sc. (Geogr.), academician at the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, editor and publisher of the
Caspian Herald (Russian Federation)Sergey Zhiltsov, Ph.D. (Philos.), consultant of the Standing Committee of the Russia-Belarus Union State (Russian Federation)
During the first decade of the 21st century, the Caspian Region, to which the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus belong in the geopolitical respect, remains a zone where the interests of many of the world’s countries meet. This is due to its advantageous geographic location, vast hydrocarbon supplies, and unique biological resources, primarily the world’s stock of sturgeon, as well as its location at the crossroads of major transportation routes, the further development of which could have an impact both on the region as a whole and on the individual countries that belong to it.
The events of 11 September, 2001 in New York and Washington launched a new phase in Russian and American foreign policy in the Caspian, since an essentially different geopolitical situation has developed in the world and in this region. And the two major players are attempting to significantly step up their policy in the countries of the region and reinforce their foothold there, both independently, and on the basis of mutual cooperation.
The current situation in Central Asia and the Caucasus is characterized by the fact that the interests of the states within and beyond the region now coincide and then diverge. The U.S. and Russia are an excellent case in point, since due to historical circumstances these two countries are among the leading players here. In this respect, it is extremely pertinent to view their policy in the region through the prism of Washington and Moscow’s regional interests, which define the level of interaction between the White House and the Kremlin.
After the events of September 2001, when Russia supported the United States in the fight against international terrorism, the Bush Administration reviewed its approach toward Russia and initiated closer ties with it. As a result, the Russian factor in the region and its “weight” in drawing up the American administration’s foreign policy significantly grew. The two countries found a common language at the peak of the antiterrorist campaign, since this was in keeping with their mutual interests.
The U.S.’s need to gain Russia’s support was dictated by several considerations. By raising Moscow’s role in the antiterrorist operation in Afghanistan, the American administration created a………………
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