Energy Security Program Policy Paper The Trans-Caspian Is a Pipeline for a Geopolitical Commission No. 1 March 2020 Robert M. Cutler Executive Summary Dr. Robert M. Cutler is Senior The Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP) project from Turkmenistan to Research Fellow, NATO Associ- Azerbaijan is a geopolitical and strategic pipeline for Europe. It ation of Canada, and Director of will bring large quantities of natural gas from Central Asia to its Energy Security Program. He southern Europe and, via the White Stream pipeline under the is also Practitioner Member, Wa- Black Sea, also to Central and Eastern Europe. The Baku–Tbilisi– terloo Institute for Complexity Ceyhan (BTC) oil export pipeline 20 years ago established and reinforced the independence of the participating countries, Azer- and Innovation, University of baijan and Georgia. It also happened to be commercially very ad- Waterloo. His professional activ- vantageous. Like it, the TCGP is a unique opportunity to ensure ity has spanned policy analysis, Europe’s economic benefit and political influence in the region. consulting, academia and jour- Also like the BTC, it is a demonstration project that will open the nalism for over three decades. broader region to greater international investment. Gas from Turkmenistan costs much less than gas from Siberia. Implemen- tation of Turkmen gas exports to the EU in sizeable quantities will serve the geopolitical purpose of cementing Central Asia’s relations with Europe, promoting integration and stability. Any views or opinions herein ex– The Energy Security Program, directed by Dr. Robert M. Cutler pressed are solely the author's and (
[email protected]), is an activity of the NATO Association of Canada, Toronto, a non-profit organization having the mission to keep Canadians do not necessarily represent those of informed about the significance of NATO.