Eurasianet is reporting that Central Asian countries are spurning all anti-terror coalition suitors, believing that they have little to gain by picking a side, including that of Russia and the U.S. in addition to the Saudis. When Saudi Arabia announced about creation of a 34-member coalition with majority of Muslim states, it lacked post-Soviet states. Azerbaijan announced that it was considering joining the coalition, but Baku has not made up its mind yet. A Saudi newspaper reported that Tajikistan was also considering joining the coalition, but the country’s deputy foreign minister denied the idea. Tajikistan’s reluctance is linked to Moscow’s hostility toward the Saudi coalition. Russian media reported Putin’s comment saying the coalition that also includes Turkey is an anti-Russian alliance.

On the other hand, Russia and the U.S. have their own coalitions. The Obama administration says 65 countries joined the forces against ISIS, however their participation is only limited to putting the name on the list, and thus far lacks any strategy. Washington is also eager to recruit Central Asian states. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Daniel Rosenblum said the U.S. is conducting talks with Uzbekistan about potential participation. Russia has its own alliance against ISIS including Iran, Iraq and Syria, but it also proved fruitless to get post-Soviet allies in the campaign. Eurasianet also says that the rosters of these coalitions are meaningless except as a name on a piece of paper. But despite their symbolic nature, Russia sees them as expressions of loyalty or disloyalty that makes the Central Asian states hesitant to take a clear position.

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News Briefs:

• Russia expanded sanctions against Turkey in addition to measures put in place last month over the warplane dispute. This time Moscow limited new Turkish construction and curbed tourism activities in Russia. Under the decision, Turkish businesses will be prohibited from signing new contracts from January 1, however, Turkish construction companies can continue ongoing work. Turkish companies are involved in all aspects of Russia’s infrastructure development including construction of stadiums for 2018 World Cup. The sanctions also prohibit Turkish citizens and companies from operating tourism agencies in Russia.

• Russian gas giant Gazprom has cancelled the tender for construction of a stretch of pipeline as part of Nord Stream-2 project. The construction of $39 million Ukhta-Torzhok pipeline was required for expanding the unified system of gas supply for the project. An agreement on Nord Stream-2 pipeline, which will run from Russia to Germany was signed in September, 2015 by Gazprom, E.ON, ENGIE, OMV and Shells and the 89 km long stretch pipeline is a key part of the new gas transportation infrastructure. Gazprom CEO, Alexei Miller, said earlier that the gas pipeline would be built and ready for commissioning by the end of 2019.

• The U.S. is preparing missile sanctions against a number of Iranian and other international companies and individuals, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong for their participation in developing ballistic missile program. The Treasury Department move is against Iran’s test fire of two ballistic missiles in October and November. The U.S. threatened to take measures after the U.N. sanctions committee ruled that the October missile test was a violation of the U.N. Security Council resolution, which banned Iran to develop ballistic missile systems. If implemented, the sanctions will be the first U.S. penalties since the nuclear accord was achieved between Iran and world powers.

• Russia lifted duties on oil and gas supplies to Armenia. Russian and Armenian sides signed an intergovernmental protocol for indefinite exemption from export duties on petroleum products, natural gas and raw diamonds supplied from Russia to Armenia. The agreement followed the talks between presidents Vladimir Putin and Serzh Sargsyan earlier in December.

• As TASS reports, Russia’s Gazprom will stop supplying gas to households in Bulgaria starting from January 1. Gazprom makes no comment about the issue. CEO of the Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD said Gazprom has no plans to deliver gas to its Bulgarian partner, Overgaz as mentioned in the official letter the Bulgarian side received. As a result about 200,000 household customers will be effected who consumer 1.5 million cubic meters of fuel. Bulgaria’s average consumption equals 11 to 13 mcm. The Bulgarian company plans to make up for the shortage by using fuel from its reserves.

• S. Naval Intelligence released a report on Russian navy, emphasizing its rising credibility and threat. According to the report, Russia’s, navy which is behind only the U.S. and China in size, might soon become capable of denying the US navy access to the Black and Baltic seas. Russian take over of Crimea and its enclave in Kaliningrad can lock US forces out from the seas. About 25,000 Russian troops stationed in Crimea can also play a role in disrupting access into the Black Sea. Earlier this year, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated about its plans to expand its Black Sea submarine fleet in size and scope. Report also says that Russia is reorganizing its personnel structure to reflect the needs of modern warfare by an attempt to transit to an all-volunteer force.