Russia and the former Soviet Union countries in Central Asia have some of the fastest growing economies in the world. This is thanks to their vast reserves of oil and natural gas. These  reserves have been difficult to develop due to the mountainous terrain and very cold climate in Russia and Central Asia.

However, the high price of oil and demand for these natural resources are causing the EU, China and even the U.S. to take more interest in these countries than ever before. The strategic location of the Central Asian countries, and their changing political status, means that these countries are strategically as well as economically important.

The willingness of these countries to use their new-found popularity to practice "pipeline politics" means this trend will affect the global economy for a long time to come.

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