MARKAZIY OSIYODA SUV XAVFSIZLIGI MUAMMOSI VA SIBIR DARYOLARINI BURISH LOYIHASI: TARIXIY TAJRIBA VA ZAMONAVIY GEOSIYOSIY TAHLIL

Abstract

Water scarcity in Central Asia has become a strategic security challenge due to climate change, ageing irrigation infrastructure, and the complexity of transboundary water governance. This article traces the historical evolution (late 19th century to early 21st century) of proposals to divert a share of the Ob–Irtysh runoff from Siberia to arid regions of Central Asia. Key political decisions, including the CPSU Politburo discussion that halted the project in 1986, and later attempts to revive the idea, are examined in a geopolitical context. The discussion compares the economic rationale and environmental risks of large-scale inter-basin transfers with modern alternatives such as water-saving technologies, domestic infrastructure modernization, regional cooperation, and demand management. The article argues that, despite technical feasibility, high ecological risks and geopolitical dependency make internal efficiency and institutional reforms the most viable priority for the region.