Russia-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan's 'trilateral gas union' might represent geopolitical leverage in favour of Moscow and Beijing because it might simultaneously satisfy the Chinese energy market’s needs and support the Russian and Chinese foreign policy in Central Asia.
In a world of growing polarity, Kazakhstan has been attempting to portray itself as a bridge connecting the East and the West. However, the so-called Russian "special operation" in Ukraine has forced the Central Asian nation to distance itself gradually from Moscow.
In the aftermath of the events in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia, European countries are straggling in search of alternative gas imports. Turkey started a military operation in northern Iraq to ensure gas supplies from Kurdish fields.
The Turkmenistan-India meeting highlighted the role that Afghanistan plays in Ashgabat and New Delhi's foreign policy and regional strategy and the importance that the TAPI project play for Turkmen and Indian economies.
During the last few days, Russian companies have shown interest in supporting the TAPI pipeline project and the Taliban in reparing their helicopters and training personnel highlighting the Kremlin's strategy in Central Asia and Afghanistan.
As clashes in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities escalate, Brussels is discussing additional manoeuvres to strike Russia, although Moscow might have adopted counter-measures based on alternative gas pipelines to export its natural gas to the Asian markets and support its economy.
The Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi arrived in Doha to attend the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and probably sign several Memorandum of Understandings, most notably to realise a crucial underwater project that will connect Iran and Iraq.
The meeting between the Taliban and the Turkmen representaives in Ashgabat underlined the Taliban's attempt to create partnerships and joint projects with Central Asian republics and Turkmenistan's necessity to discuss with the Afghan interim Government the promotion of the TAPI natural gas pipeline.
In the Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan, the protests due to the price rise of the liquid natural gas caused the Government to resign and pushed Kazakh President Tokayev to declare a two-week state of emergency.
La Belt and Road Initiative elaborata da Pechino mira a proiettare la Cina come potenza mondiale a livello politico ed economico. Il settore energetico, ed in special modo quello del gas naturale, diviene quindi fondamentale per la crescia economica nazionale e l'affermazione cinese nello schacchiere geopolitico internazionale.