The Energy Dimension in American Policy towards the Black Sea Region.

American energy policy in the Black Sea region is centered on encouraging the safe and reliable transportation of energy supplies westward from Central Asia and the Caspian Sea. Establishing this east-west corridor will reduce traffic through vulnerable energy chokepoints and break Russia's near-monopolistic control of oil and gas transit routes in the region. Not only will this strategy improve European and Eurasian energy security, it will also reduce Moscow's ability to interfere with the states of the Black and Caspian Sea regions. Greater freedom from Russia will allow these states to move closer to the West, opening the door for political and economic reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]