Eurasian Geopolitics Face Astana Earthquake

While the Middle East captures the most focus, Central Asia also offers strategic energy supplies. The South Yolotan gas field in Turkmenistan, for example, is the world’s second largest, reports Pepe Escobar in an opinion essay for Al Jazeera. Russia and China could be gambling that cooperation could be better than conflict at securing those supplies, and envision Central Asia re-emerging as a modern-day Silk Road, providing reliable crossroads for regional energy trade. The strategy of emerging powers is reflected by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which convened for an annual meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital. Members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan; Pakistan and India will soon join as full members, and Afghanistan will join as observer. Motivations vary, but all members look to counter NATO and US power. A network of roads, pipelines and an energy grid crisscrossing Asia requires stability, and Escobar concludes, “There's no way the Pentagon's war on terror-based Full Spectrum Dominance doctrine can compete with that integrated vision.” – YaleGlobal