The Bush administration has officially announced the high-profile Caspian Envoy position we’ve
been discussing on this blog for some three months. This would be
Washington’s point person in the
contest for petro-influence with
Russia in
Europe.
In reply to a question before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said she’s head-hunting for the position now:
“I do intend to appoint, and we are looking for, a special energy coordinator who could especially spend time on the Central Asian and Caspian region,” Rice said. She added, ``It is a really important part of diplomacy. In fact, I think I would go so far as to say that some of the politics of energy is warping diplomacy in certain parts of the world.”
Rice is right. Russia's Vladimir Putin is far advanced in his shrewd market strategy for dominating Europe's natural gas supply even more than Russia currently does. Putin has personally gotten most of the necessary approvals from other nations for three new natural gas pipelines stretching from Turkmenistan into the heart of Europe. Meanwhile, Washington is not yet out of the starting gate for its rival, Western-controlled pipeline system that also would begin in Turkmenistan.
But I have my doubts about Rice's seriousness given her singular focus on the Middle East as a legacy issue for the Bush administration. Even if she were actively seeking someone, it seems highly unlikely that this late in the administration she could get a commitment from anyone with enough star power to outplay the masterful Putin.
Someone such as Zbigniew Brzezinski or James Baker. And even if someone of that caliber did agree, he or she would likely be in the job just 11 months, until the next administration takes over, which doesn’t seem sufficient time to mold the Western plan into shape.
Back in November, it looked like U.S. super-diplomat Thomas Pickering was imminently to be appointed. In the end, I’m told that the lawyers couldn’t work it out given his position as an adviser to Boeing.
The most realistic question now may be whether it will be too late when the next administration gets up and running.
Photo:
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Creative CommonsLabels: Caspian, condoleeza rice, Nabucco, natural gas, nord stream, oil, pipelines, south stream
The Bush administration has officially announced the high-profile Caspian Envoy position we’ve been discussing on this blog for some three months. This would be 
2 Comments:
good analysis.
too little, too late?
on the other hand, where is the gas supply for south stream?
or is blocking/delaying nabucco sufficient?
Hi Dentist. The Russians intend to use Turkmen gas to fill most of both pipelines.
There is speculation as you suggest -- that Putin's ultimate aim is to block Nabucco for awhile until he can spoon Gazprom into it. That this is his crafty side.
I myself have not found Putin to be crafty. I've found him to be, if anything, exceedingly straight- forward. I think he is saying precisely what he intends -- Russia wants to build three pipelines, the line north from Turkmenistan to Russia; and Nord Stream and South Stream from there west into Europe.
Thanks, Steve
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