Israel's Strategy in Azerbaijan and Central Asia

The rapidly shifting balances of the 1990's and new developments stemming form acceleration of economic globalization have forced Israel to reevaluate and reshape its foreign policy strategy. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, several new republics became a part of the Middle East due to their statute as Muslim countries. These Central Asian states appeared on the agenda of the Israeli adminstration even before they had won their indepedence from Moscow. Israel’s surprisingly early contacts and developing relations with these republics are evidence of the importance attached to this region. One goal of these early attempts has been to set a barrier against the expansion of Arab and Iranian influenc in the new republics. The main aim has been to preempt the threat of Islamic fundamentlism.