Znaczenie Morza Kaspijskiego w polityce Kazachstanu – wyzwania i perspektywy .......... 363

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CASPIAN SEA IN KAZAKHSTAN’S POLITICS: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

In recent years, the Caspian Sea and its legal status has been the subject of much debate while becoming a field of regional rivalry. Kazakhstan, in conducting both its external and internal policies, seeks to balance forces between the interests of the great powers and the demand in regional stability and development. On the other hand, it tries to maintain constructive dialogue and relations with neighboring countries in the region, securing favorable corridors of access to natural resources and logistics and transportation routes for its future. The purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyze the conditions, challenges and significance of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan’s policy, taking into account the geopolitical factor. Also, the aspect of the balance of power in the region with special attention to the role of Kazakhstan will be analyzed, but also the geostrategic importance for the countries of the region, including Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran.