THE EVOLUTION OF U.S. ENERGY DIPLOMACY IN CENTRAL ASIA: FROM CASPIAN OIL PIPELINES TO CRITICAL MINERALS (1991–2026)

The article analyzes how U.S. energy diplomacy in Central Asia has changed between 1991 and 2026. The study relies on the historical-comparative method and distinguishes five stages. These include the Caspian Pipeline Diplomacy (1990s), Security and Energy Connectivity (2000s), the New Silk Road (2011–2020), the Electricity Market and Clean Energy (2021–2024), and Critical Minerals Diplomacy (2025–2026). The main conclusion is that the object of Washington's energy diplomacy has shifted from hydrocarbons to transport corridors, then to market institutions, and finally to critical commodity chains, while the tool has shifted from state support to financial and investment mechanisms.