Expansion of the west in the Caspian region

Abstract

The expansionism of the West, led by the United States in the CIS space, particularly in countries with signifi cant natural resources, is always aimed not only at maximization the use of their wealth but also at neutralization the infl uence of Russia. The energy reserves of the Caspian territories and their geography since olden times attracted Westerners, primarily Americans and British. The oil boom in the second half of the 19th century led to the introduction of the largest Western companies such as the American giant «Standard Oil», «French House of Rothschild», and the Anglo-Dutch «Royal Dutch Shell» equipped with advanced technologies into the country's hydrocarbon industry. Extraordinary for that time fi nancial resources were invested in the Russian oil industry. The Soviet government nationalized the oil and gas industry, blocking foreigners' access to it. After the collapse of the USSR, new sovereign states, including the Caspian ones, in an eff ort to overcome socioeconomic and foreign policy problems, focused on the accelerated exploitation of natural resources by the foreign partners. American, British, Norwegian, Japanese, Saudi, Turkish companies have started operating in Azerbaijan. Royal Dutch-Shell, Chevron, Eni, Total feel comfortable in Kazakhstan. Along with hydrocarbons, Kazakhstan has signifi cant reserves of uranium, which is mined by foreign businesses, including Western ones. From 1992 (date of establishment of Turkmen-American diplomatic relations) up to 2021 Turkmenistan and the United States signed 167 documents on cooperation in the energy sector, including the gas sector, engineering, agriculture and other areas. Against this background, Russia needs to intensify its participation and cooperation in energy projects, scientific, educational, agro-industrial areas of the Caspian states. Activities in the CIS space is important especially in the context of the total, political, economic, information war of the collective West against Russia.