International studies, Vol. V No. 1, 2005.
Review article
Global Competition for Control of the Black Sea-Caspian Region
Goran Žanko
; Ministry of Defense, Republic of Croatia
Abstract
With the disintegration of the farmer Soviet Union the vacuum of power in the new formed south states of the Black Sea-Caspian region bas been created. The Russian monopoly over "the last untouched" energy potentials is being routed by international oil companies under western patronage.
The USA trying to secure a permanent supply of a long-awaited quantity of energy, encourages the newly formed countries of the Euroasian Balkans to come out of the "Russian shadow" and to become producers / guards of the oil fields and energy corridors.
Antiterrorist activities on a global level, the complexity of the situation in Iraq and lowered confidence in Saudi Arabia after September 11 are additional factors of influence on the strengthening Washington/Moscow relations. The newly created E-W corridor becomes, at the same time, the W-E American corridor for the creation of diplomatic, economic and of last resort military instruments in the Central region of the European chess board. The outcomes of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq and Georgia will determine the future role of the USA as the only remaining global force.
Keywords
globalization; USA; energy policy; Global Balkans; Black Sea-Caspian region, E-W corridor
Hrčak ID:
289619
URI
Publication date:
15.1.2005.
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