WATER SECURITY IN THE SYR DARYA BASIN

Abstract

Water and energy resources are crucial components in driving the economic development of the national economies in Central Asian countries. Economic growth in resource-rich countries is driven by energy, which acts as the primary engine for diversifying economic policies, while also serving as a resource base for overcoming geographical economic isolation. The state of the energy complex and the availability of water and energy resources are key factors contributing to the uneven economic development in the Central Asian republics. Some states, such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, serve as major energy exporters, while others, including Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, rely on importing energy resources.

 Central Asian countries strive for cooperation in managing shared water resources is being thwarted by uncoordinated national strategies, whose conflicting objectives and prioritization of water security can be understood through the lens of the regional security complex theory in the context of the transboundary Syr Darya basin. Regional cooperation over transboundary water energy appears to be gaining momentum despite the geopolitical landscape, and the heads of state from Central Asia have once again adopted their traditional meeting format.

Even if some progress has been made in managing water resources in the Syr Darya basin, but unresolved issues continue, making cooperation more difficult between the Central Asian states. The research examines the features of transboundary collaboration in the Syr Darya river basin. Water management in the transboundary Syr Darya River basin is also being evaluated in terms of its associated challenges.