ABSTRACT
During the 1990s, the Caspian Sea region was hardly a key priority for Russian foreign and security policy. However, even with limited and often inconsistent engagement in the region, Russia has had a major influence on the transition from a post-Soviet zone of instability towards an object of a new strategic rivalry between major global powers. For the Caucasus and Central Asia, the first decade of Russia’s post-Soviet transformation was characterised by the threatening uncertainty over Russia’s intentions. Partially as a result of this, these newly independent states were actively engaged in the search for new strategic allies who could help them to consolidate sovereignty and independence. The reluctance of the Caspian states to accept Russia’s post-Soviet influence, and their efforts to deny it economic benefits, were seen as a threat to Russia’s lingering great-power ambitions. Consequently, in the 1990s, Russia’s relations with the ex-Soviet Caspian states developed very slowly and painfully. This uncertainty came to an end in 2000, when, under President Putin, Russia started to re-emerge as a confident and increasingly powerful economic player in the region. However, even today, Russia’s regional policy is weakened by its inability to reconcile economic and security interests into a regional strategy which could guarantee stability and prosperity for both Russia and its neighbours.
