US Policy and Interest in the Post-Soviet Caspian Region

The instability of the Caspian region, matters profoundly to the west and to the U.S. for several reasons. First, its instability permits the operation and growth of terrorist movements that often have a global and specifically anti-American scope. Second, the Caspian is a emerging oil producing region vital to unimpeded energy access. Finally, regional conflicts in this volatile area have the potential of developing into major power confrontations that cannot but affect the security of the U.S. and its allies. US since 1992 have claimed that engaging the Caspian states is a strategic priority for the United States foreign policy. The region is home to vast unexploited oil and gas reserves and is an important staging area for the US