U.S. interests have an exceptionally powerful impact on internal Caspian
policies, negotiations, and choice of pipeline routes. The three resource
exporting states, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, are struggling
to shed their political and economic dependence on Russia, and believe
that allying themselves with the United States would further promote their
autonomy. A top Kazakh official explains that only the U.S. could provide
a counterbalance for big powers such as Russia and China. The Caspian
states create such an alliance
with
the U.S. by signing contracts with American corporations. Normally, when
an American oil company wishes to invest in a peaceful host country with
a stable democracy, the U.S. government remains a supportive spectator.
But due to numerous regional conflicts, the threat of Iran, the overwhelming
Russian presence, and the economic and environmental desires of Turkey,
the oil and gas companies are unusually dependent on American diplomacy
to negotiate pipeline routes.
Thus, the U.S. government has substantial leverage on the oil companies, and may be able to use them to bridge national security interests and the interests of the Caspian states.