Authors

Discussion

The study operationalises the concept of strategy for energy transition enhancement (SETE) for a third country or region as a specific mode of a (supra)nation’s energy transition diplomacy (ETD). The paper argues that the ideational parameters and structural components of a (supra)nation’s energy transition strategy influence its ETD. When ETD is tuned to a particular external context, it reveals such features of SETE as flexibility and adaptability in response to global, (supra)national and third-country/ region factors. The paper analyses the European Union (EU) and Japan’s approaches to fostering energy transition in Central Asian countries, i.e. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Central Asia’s energy landscape is multifaceted, marked by uneven availability of hydrocarbon resources and uniformly robust potential for renewable energy (RE) development. The distinct modes of the EU and Japan's strategic engagements with Central Asian countries mirror the formers' respective interests, priorities and institutional frameworks. The paper comparatively analyses the initiatives and mechanisms employed by the EU and Japan to facilitate energy transition in Central Asia and discusses the synergy potential of the three parties’ collective efforts.