This is a post from our Russian blog translated by Merdjen

The world of hydrocarbon energy carrier market is hue-and-cry: Putin, Berdymuhammedov and Nazarbaev agreed to a mutually beneficial friendship and to implement Turkmen gas supply to the Russian Federation all the way through Kazakhstan.

Now, the three-power treaty is signed. It seems that nothing amazing or extraordinary happened. If one takes a look at the map, even with eyes closed, the shortest path from Turkmenistan to Russia (the major importer of Turkmen gas), lays exactly on that route. Why then is the world community is so alarmed?

It turned out that Russia does not buy gas for its own consumption, but for selling it onward to Europe. And yet the shortest cut from us to Europe exists across the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Turkey. Nothing more than a gas pipeline should be built on Caspian seabed, in that case it is a stone’s throw to Paris.

Not only Azerbaijan and Turkey are actively standing up for this grand Trans-Caspian project, but also Georgia, Ukraine, Poland and and even the US.  The latter has for a long time been persistently lobbying for the idea of such a gas pipeline which would allow the delivery of Central Asian gas to Europe bypassing Russia. But then, all of a sudden, such a blow!

While waging two protracted wars, Americans still have enough enthusiasm to interfere in affairs that do not involve the US even by implication. The United States is concerned that gas pipeline treaty between Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will not benefit Europe.

“That is not fair to Europe. It will give a date to what Europe needs, in other words, diversification of suppliers”- was said by the Secretary of US Department of Energy Sam Boldman during his visit to Paris.

Does this mean that America is selflessly struggling for EU interests in Central Asia? Or whether they have planned to provide the European continent with their own natural gas by laying the pipeline through Atlantic Ocean? Nope, the answer is much easier and more prosaic.

“Central Asia and Kazakhstan is a very significant region in the geopolitical interests of the United States, and the secure integration of the countries in the region is necessary for a more enhanced cooperation with the United States”- Deputy Assistant Secretary of Department of Commerce Paul Dyke.
“We consider Central Asia an important region close to Afghanistan. It’s important for Afghan domestic stability.”

While the the world community has been expressing its concerns and care about stability in Afghanistan, the Kremlin has been celebrating its victory and the Russian Prime Minister has made an official statement of intent on the initiation of Turkmen-Russian natural gas pipeline construction next year.

Oh well, what a nuisance for Europe!…