Revaz Adamia

By Bruce Pannier If all the proposed energy-export projects envisioned for the South Caucasus were to be built, hundreds of billions of dollars of oil- and natural-gas revenues could be flowing through the region annually. Once considered a "crossroads of civilization," the South Caucasus has emerged as a crossroads of energy-export routes -- spurring renewed competition in the region. Nestled amid regions to the south and east that possess huge hydrocarbon wealth, and regions west and north...Read Full Story

It is pretty clear that Russia and Georgia are at war (see excellent background article here ). It is not like there were no warning signs that Russia did not enjoy having its power challenged, as happened with the independence of Kosovo where the UN ignored Russia’s opposition and went ahead with support for the new republic over its objections. Then, a few weeks ago, I posted on the fact that it seemed that Russia was engaging in a new Cold War in an attempt to reclaim some global military...Read Full Story

It is apparent that a variety of countries have some new found confidence vis-a-vis their mineral wealth, namely Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan , and Russia, however, what will come of it? More corruption? There will clearly be more money to go in the "presidents'" pockets towards improving the lives of the citizenry. A Moscow-led natural gas OPEC? That is not a bad idea, per se, but the Kremlin will want to use it as another one of its sticks. SP doubts that the other...Read Full Story

By Joshua Kucera The Obama administration is embracing austerity when it comes to providing economic assistance to the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus. Many states in the region will see their assistances levels remain unchanged, under the administration’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, two countries that have emerged as important conduits for resupplying US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, may even see aid levels fall slightly. A year ago...Read Full Story

The conflict that has erupted in the Caucasus has set alarm bells ringing because of Georgia's pivotal role in the global energy market. Georgia has no significant oil or gas reserves of its own but it is a key transit point for oil from the Caspian and central Asia destined for Europe and the US. Crucially, it is the only practical route from this increasingly important producer region that avoids both Russia and Iran. The 1,770km (1,100 miles) Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which entered...Read Full Story