After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Central Asia and Azerbaijan became a key arena of competition between global and regional powers in Eurasia. Though Turkey is one of the most important players in the region, it remains second rank. Due to its economic and demographic rise, however, Turkey could gain the potential necessary to become a key player in the coming years. Whether Turkey will be able to use this potential to its full extent will depend on the way it copes with several serious internal challenges, as well as its ability to play a role of a key transit route for gas and oil exported from the region.