The Role of Central Asia in Turkey’s Energy Strategy

The article examines the strategic role of Central Asia in Turkey’s energy policy and identifies the key factors that determine the prospects for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Turkey, lacking substantial oil and gas reserves, regards the region as a crucial source of supply diversification and, at the same time, as a platform for strengthening its role as a transit hub linking Caspian resources with European markets. The focus is on Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, which play a leading role in global production of oil, natural gas, and uranium, thereby shaping the region’s energy potential.

The article analyzes the main areas of cooperation: the development of transport infrastructure, including the Middle Corridor (a logistics route connecting China with Europe via Central Asia), the modernization of existing oil and gas routes, as well as the prospects for constructing the Trans- Caspian Gas Pipeline, which is seen as a strategic project for diversifying export flows. Special attention is paid to renewable energy sources: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are actively implementing solar and wind power projects, while Turkmenistan is making its first steps in this field. The participation of Turkish companies in building logistics centers, railways, ports, and energy infrastructure contributes to deeper integration of the region into the Eurasian energy and transport system.

At the same time, it is emphasized that cooperation is accompanied by a number of challenges: infrastructural limitations, legal and environmental barriers, and financial risks. Turkey is compelled to balance between the interests of global players while simultaneously promoting the concept of Turkic solidarity and shaping new formats of regional cooperation.

The study concludes that Central Asia is becoming not only a supplier of energy resources but also a key link in the emerging Eurasian energy architecture, where Turkey seeks to establish itself as a strategic mediator and an energy bridge between the East and Europe.

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