Cross-border trade in energy resources: Features of the Central Asian region

Abstract

The article is related to the role and place of the Central Asian region in a cross-border energy resources trade at present stage. On the one hand, there are two countries in Asia, which are in the list of the world’s largest importers of energy resources - India and China. On the other hand, the Central Asian countries (with the exception of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) and Russia are net energy exporters, herewith this kind of export is all-important for their macroeconomic stability. It is not surprising that the problems of organizing mutually beneficial trade in energy resources throughout the Central Asian region are among the most urgent issues for all interested parties’ agenda. So, the analysis and assessment of the energy component of cooperation between the Russia, Central Asian states, China and India lies in the focus of the article. Of course, India is not directly integrated into the energy architecture of the Central Asian space, but its large domestic market is one of the drivers of energy supplies growth. Therefore, it is advisable to consider India as an external actor that has a significant impact on the ongoing processes. Current practice of multilateral participation shaping the energy dialogue can also have a great importance in the geopolitical context - as a factor of either additional cohesion or increasing contradictions in the given region.