Russia has always had an uneasy relationship with its bordering Caucasus states, and the discovery of massive natural resources in and around the Caspian Sea only served to fuel an already tense situation. Indeed, like many other situations around the globe, the heart of the matter is of course, oil and natural gas reserves.
While Moscow has always claimed a fear of the ‘domino-effect,’ the truth of the matter is these reserves, and the massive industrial complex that serves them. One of Russia’s most significant pipelines out of the Middle East runs directly through that region, more specifically, Chechnya with potential production of crude at nearly 20 million tons
These stakes are high and with these breakaway regions continually leaning towards NATO alliances, the Russians have a right to be nervous. Pipelines and refineries are not the only thing that Russia would lose; obviously they stand to lose a huge source of income should these regions lean to far west.
- Caucasus: Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria Compete For New Oil Refinery. Turkish Weekly News. April 4, 2008.
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/54139/caucasus-chechnya-kabardino-balkaria-compete-for-new-oil-refinery.html - What does Russia see in Chechnya? Oil. Amina.com January 20, 1995. http://amina.com/article/wha_oil.html
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