Iran and Russia: from “Oil-for-Goods Swap” to “Oil-Gas Swap”
By Vali Kaleji January 17, 2023 Recent agreements between Tehran and Moscow on an oil-gas swap is another sign of Russia’s turn towards Asian oil and gas markets and closer relations between the...
View ArticleDecreasing Water Levels in the Caspian Sea: Causes and Implications
By Vali Kaleji October 13, 2023 Various reports indicate that the water level of the Caspian Sea has decreased by one meter in recent years and could drop by 9 to 18 meters (30 to 59 feet) by the end...
View ArticleA New Spring for Caspian Transit and Trade
Svante E. Cornell and Brenda Shaffer October 17, 2023 Major recent shifts, starting with the Taliban victory in Afghanistan and Russia’s war in Ukraine have led to a resurgence of the Trans-Caspian...
View ArticleFour Years On: An Update on Kazakhstan’s Reforms
Svante E. Cornell October 24, 2023 Almost four years have passed since President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev embarked upon an agenda to bring thorough reforms to Kazakhstan’s politics and society. This...
View ArticleChessboard No More: the Rise of Central Asia’s International Agency
By Svante E. Cornell and S. Frederick Starr October 3, 2023 Central Asia is often portrayed through metaphors such as a “Grand Chessboard” or a “Great Game,” which suggest that the players in the game...
View ArticleSecurity and Military Cooperation Among the Turkic States in the 2020s
Richard Outzen December 8, 2023 There has been a rapid intensification of Turkish relations with Turkic states in Central Asia and the Caucasus in the past decade. The creation of the Organization of...
View ArticleKazakhstan’s Foreign Policy: Managing the Major Powers
By Svante E. Cornell December 8, 2023 Kazakhstan has been deeply affected by the geopolitical turmoil across the region in the past several years, which threatened to undermine the viability of the...
View ArticleTwo Years Later: Kazakhstan's January Events
By Svante E. Cornell January 2, 2024 In January 2022, Kazakhstan experienced its most serious internal crisis since independence. Popular protests over energy costs turned into riots that in turn took...
View ArticleRussian Influence in Turkmenistan: Rapprochement or Pragmatism?
Slavomir Horak January 19, 2024 Turkmenistan underwent a serious rapprochement with Russia in recent years, particularly after the establishment of a ruling tandem with Serdar Berdimuhamedow as a...
View ArticleTurkey-Kazakhstan Relations: A Strong Partnership in the Turkic World
Bayram Balcı February 21, 2024 Kazakhstan has been a key partner for Turkey in the Turkic world, with relations that have been positive and expanding since independence. They have accelerated in recent...
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