Caspian Sea Pipeline: A Clear Strategic U.S. Interest

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Caspian Sea Pipeline: A Clear Strategic U.S. Interest

L. T. Marek

From the spring of 1998 through the winter of 2002, during the debate and initial planning for the first major pipeline in the region, a host of policy articles were being written describing the coming storm of a potential geopolitical 'rivalry' between and among the Caspian superpowers. The policy arguments revolved around two distinct but related issues: first, who would be the winners and the losers in the struggle for pipeline routes and revenues, and how would the outcome affect the future battle for strategic advantage. Secondly, given the answer to the first question, how could American interests be realized without destabilizing the civil societies and fragile institutions of the Caspian region. The answer to the first question may not be fully determined, but this paper will look at how, after the pipeline's completion, the United States can still actively pursue its interests without destabilizing Central Asia. After reviewing articles and papers from regional experts and oil business experts, this study will describe what the region has to offer the world and what challenges the countries in the Caspian Sea region face in their pursuit of energy. Finally, recommendations will be proposed regarding how U.S. interests can be achieved in the Caspian region, and how the United States can serve as a stabilizing force in supporting the fragile institutions and civil societies of the region.