The Role of Green Energy in Turkish Foreign Policy Towards Turkic States in Central Asia and the South Caucasus

The primary scientific objective of this proposed paper is to analyse and evaluate Türkiye's initiatives towards Turkic states in Central Asia (i.e. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and the South Caucasus (i.e. Azerbaijan) in the context of Turkish efforts to exploit its own green energy potential in order to become one of the leaders of the global energy transition. Since the Justice and Development Party (tur. Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) assumed power in 2002, the main goal of Türkiye's foreign policy has been to steadily extend its influence in the geographical area spanning from the Western Balkans to East Turkestan. The Turks adopted an active and multifaceted approach to diplomacy, seeking to utilise a broad array of measures to systematically enhance the state's international standing. While the initial focus of Türkiye's political actions towards neighbouring regions was on historical, religious and cultural commonalities, there has been a shift towards a more complex and pragmatic stance on the international stage, especially after the political system transition in 2018. The heightened interest in the development of energy projects with Turkic states, which occupy a distinctive position in Turkish political strategy, is a salient manifestation of this process in recent years. This paper examines the nature and formation of contemporary relations between Türkiye and five Turkic states in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, taking Turkish initiatives in the field of energy cooperation (with particular emphasis on green technologies) as a reference point. The theoretical foundation for research activities undertaken as part of this paper is role theory in international relations, as it provides a broad range of tools useful in analysing states' diplomatic actions. In view of the evolving dynamics of renewable energy technologies, this research seeks to investigate how Türkiye employs its own green energy transition capabilities to formulate effective policies for both regions. From a macro-level perspective, this phenomenon can be interpreted as a novel trend in the foreign policy of states aspiring to hegemony. By underscoring the benefits of the green transition, these nations gain a strategic lever to exert influence on the global environment. As declared by the AKP leadership, Türkiye also aims to become a leader in the green transformation, at least on a regional scale. However, it is important to consider whether the Turkish position is sufficiently advantageous to warrant an intensification of efforts to expand its political influence in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Having employed available original sources (official documents, public reports, interviews and speeches of AKP politicians) as well as literature on the subject (academic publications, policy briefs), the most decisive factors shaping Turkish foreign policy towards Turkic states have been identified. Based on qualitative research methodology (e.g. content analysis, political discourse analysis, process tracing method), this paper attempts to answer the research question regarding impact of Ankara-led projects for regional cooperation in green energy on efficient implementation of Turkish strategic goals in Central Asia and the South Caucasus.