In this Article Dr. Robert M Cutler, examines the implications for Europe’s energy security of the recently agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to co-develop the Dostluk hydrocarbon field in the Caspian Sea.
Author: Robert M. Cutler
Robert M. Cutler earned his doctorate at The University of Michigan after
receiving two Bachelor's degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. After over a dozen years in leading universities in Canada,
France, Russia, Switzerland and the United States, he expanded into policy
analysis and consulting as an Energy Security and Geo-economics Specialist. He has over 20 years' experience in international energy diplomacy: advising energy firms, governments, international institutions and NGOs; framing policy and research issues and leading teams to address them, and producing briefings and analytical bulletins.
He has published scores of refereed academic articles, policy articles and book chapters. He is Fellow, Canadian Energy Research Institute; Fellow, Canadian Global Affairs Institute; and Practitioner Member, Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation, University of Waterloo. He is fluent in English, French and Russian. He can be reached at rmc@alum.mit.edu and tweets from @RobertMCutler.
Le Gazoduc Transcaspien Pour la Consolidation de la Paix Dans le Caucase du Sud
Le Directeur du Programme de Sécurité énergétique Dr. Robert M. Cutler a participé le 2 février à la Conférence annuelle « Voisinages » organisée par l’Institut d’études européennes de l’Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles, qui porte cette année le titre : Quid de l’après Covid 19 pour la relation entre l’UE et ses voisinages : compagnonnage renouvelé ou proximité Read More…
Euro-Caspian Energy Security and Geoeconomics
This edited transcript of a 40-minute podcast interview (1 November 2020) covers the Caspian Sea’s legal regime, national interests of its littoral states, Turkey’s role in Euro-Caspian energy security, American and Chinese interests in the region, and why the Caspian Sea’s significance will increase still more in future.
Where does energy fit in the new military clashes with Armenia?
An analytical commentary by Robert M. Cutler, Director of the Energy Security Program, titled “Where does energy fit in the new military clashes with Armenia?“, was published on 28 July 2020 by the independent News.Az Online News Agency As is well known by now, in mid-July new military hostilities erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenia. They Read More…
Euro-Caspian Energy Relations in the Post-COVID World
On 11 June 2020, Dr. Robert M. Cutler, Director of the Energy Security Program, spoke to a webinar “Energy Issues in the Post-Covid World”, organized by the Center for Analysis of International Relations, Baku, Azerbaijan. This is a transcript of his remarks.
The Trans-Caspian Is a Pipeline for a Geopolitical Commission
The Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP) project from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan is a geopolitical and strategic pipeline for Europe. It will bring large quantities of natural gas from Central Asia to southern Europe and, via the White Stream pipeline under the Black Sea, also […]
U.S. Passes New Geopolitical Energy Legislation
In the rush of activity at the end of last year, in preparation for adjournment, the U.S. Congress approved and President Donald Trump signed legislation including provisions for American foreign economic policy, and energy policy in particular. The one that has got perhaps more attention was the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of Read More…
European Investment Bank Shifts Policy
In mid-November, the European Investment Bank (EIB) decided on five new rules to guide its energy lending policy: priority to energy efficiency, enabling energy “decarbonization”, increased finance for decentralized energy production, increased finance for “intermittent” energy sources such as wind and solar, and supporting “energy transformation” outside the EU. The Bank will cease lending in Read More…
Turkmenistan Relations with European Union Reach a New Level
The energy security of NATO members in Europe will receive a further boost as the European Union has opened a new Delegation in Turkmenistan. This Delegation supersedes the lower-level liaison office through which relations had been conducted up until now. The move follows the European Council’s adoption of a new “EU Strategy for Central Asia,” Read More…
Uzbekistan Moves Fast To Reform Energy Sector
Energy sector reform is moving quickly in Uzbekistan, and foreign direct investment (FDI) is skyrocketing. The country did not have an energy ministry until February of this year. Instead, the energy sector was in the portfolio of one of eight deputy prime ministers, who also covered metallurgy and geology. This excessive concentration of responsibilities was Read More…