Central Asia in the EU’s Ever-changing Geo-strategic Horizon

Could be possible to inscribe the EU’s relationship with Central Asia within the framework of short-term energy security or in the likelihood of an increase in energy interconnections in the long term.

To explore from the perspective of the second option the possible relations of the EU with Kazakhstan –the most significant nation as regards Brussels–, and from the Kazakh point of view of client diversification or multivectorialism (which Turkmenistan might follow, despite last May’s gas deal between Moscow and Ashgabat, which also involves Astana).

And is important to identify the options open to Central Asian countries to cooperate in a somewhat flexible triangular system involving the EU and the now-distant Russia, and encompassing both the political and energy spheres. Fourthly, it will take into account the general orientations which in this regard and in connection with security might be considered by the SCO in the Eurasian region.

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