Reshaping The Caspian Bloc?
September 14th, 2009
Via The Asia Times, a report on a recent meeting of Caspian states that could foreshadow the emergence of a new regional economic grouping. As the article notes: “…On September 11-13, the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will meet in the Kazakh city of Aktau, on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The […]
Read more »Turkey: A Geopolitical Pivot In Central Asia
April 17th, 2009
Via The Center for Research on Globalization, interesting analysis of Turkey’s role & increased significance in the years ahead: “…If Ankara decides to collaborate more closely with Russia, Georgia’s position is precarious and Azerbaijan’s natural gas pipeline route to Europe, the so-called Nabucco Pipeline, is blocked. If it cooperates with the United States and manages to […]
Read more »The Great Game (Over?): China’s Interest in Caspian Energy Reserves
April 17th, 2009
Via The Asia Times, an interesting summary of China’s keen interest in Central Asia’s energy resources and its efforts to take advantage of the global downturn to lock in such. As the article notes: “…may lead to a marked shift of fortune in the Great Game for control of Caspian energy reserves. On the surface, […]
Read more »Shift In Central Asia?
April 17th, 2009
Via Stratfor (subscription required), interesting analysis of the shifting dynamics in Central Asia as the global financial crisis and declining energy prices have shifted Central Asian regional leader Kazakhstan to an inward focus, and offered Uzbekistan an opportunity to reassert its historic role as regional leader. As the article notes: “…Central Asia had remained stagnant […]
Read more »Russia and Iran: Emphasize “North-South” Routes vs. “East-West”
January 25th, 2009
Via Windows on Eurasia, an analysis of the renewed interest in the development of three major north-south routes that would link Russia with Iran — via the Caspian Sea, via a railroad through Azerbaijan, and via pipelines from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan — a route that it is only half as long as the traditional sea […]
Read more »The New Great Game: Russia vs. The West over Caspian & Central Asian Energy Resources
January 21st, 2009
Via World Politics Review, an in-depth summary of the new geostrategic “Great Game” between Russia and the West over the future of Caspian and Central Asian energy resources. As the article notes, the prize resembles a set of traditional matreshka Russian dolls: the outermost doll represents the three nations bordering the Caspian itself — Azerbaijan, […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.