CENTRAL ASIA IN THE FOREIGN POLICY OF IRAN AND TURKEY

Abstract

The paper provides a historical overview of the geopolitical contest between Iran and Turkey in Central Asia and analyzes the current geopolitical development in the region. The establishment of the Organization of Turkic States at the 8^th summit of the Turkic-speaking nations in Istanbul has not only been a watershed in the history of the Turkic world, yet this event has brought new changes to the geopolitical configuration in the region. The sanctions imposed after the Russian annexation of Crimea and the conflict in the south-east of Ukraine had a significant impact on the Russian economy. In this regard, the countries of Central Asia, especially in the first place Kazakhstan, whose economy is closely interconnected with Russia, are experiencing serious economic difficulties.