Oil and natural gas reserves of Kazakhstan and its impact on country's foreign policy

The fall of the Soviet Union and the consequent end of the bipolar world resulted in the forming of new countries which was the beginning of a new era. Although former Soviet countries make efforts to adapt to the new conditions that came with the new world order, the great powers remain major actors of the current setup. In the analysis from the point of view of energy security, today's Central Asia is considered to be one of the richest regions in oil and gas resources. Kazakhstan is the leading country in Central Asia with the largest landmass and wealth of energy resources. Therefore, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country immediately caught the interests of major powers. On the other hand, Kazakhstan's very low demographic structure and weak military power can be considered a threat to national security. For this reason, the transition of Kazakhstan to the free market and the use of its own military power, political and economic opportunities in cooperation with the great powers are strategically important in the development of the country. This paper focuses on the importance of oil and natural gas in the formation of the foreign policy of Kazakhstan. It is also explained how energy resources are used as a tool in the country's policy. The main aim of the thesis is to present the projects invested by great powers for good production and development of oil and natural gas and to analyze their impact on Kazakhstan's energy policy. In the light of the data, it is discussed whether oil and natural gas are the driving force in the country's multi-directional policy and economy.