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 »Uzbekistan: In The Middle of A Central Asian Tug-of-War
February 12th, 2009
Via Stratfor (subscription required), an interesting anaylsis of Uzbekistan’s role in the spotlight as Russia and the U.S. engage in a strategic tug-of-war over Central Asia. As the article notes “…With a population of nearly 28 million, Uzbekistan it is the most populous of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is also one of […]
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 »Caspian Sea Energy Reserves and Geopolitical Intrigue
January 5th, 2009
Via Seeking Alpha, an interesting post which is centered on a review of a book entitled The New Great Game. However, I am noting it here as it provides a nice summary of issues related to the Caspian (with handy maps, no less). As the article notes “…The investigative journalist delves deeply into the geopolitical […]
Read more »Pipeline Politics: Uzbekistan Cuts Gas Supply To Tajikistan
January 2nd, 2009
From the Times of Central Asia, a report that Uzbekistan recently cut gas supplies to neighboring Tajikistan by 45% in a dispute over a $7 million debt. As the article notes: “…Before this weekend, Tajikistan was receiving 40,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas per hour. As of last night, we are receiving around 22,000 cubic […]
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.