THE FORMATION OF A GEOPOLITICAL ORDER IN CENTRAL ASIA: THE INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL ACTORS AND REGIONAL DYNAMICS

Abstract

The article analyzes the formation of the contemporary geopolitical order in Central Asia. The region, which includes Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, occupies an important place in the system of international relations due to its strategic geographical location in the center of Eurasia, its rich natural resource potential, transit opportunities, and its role as a connecting bridge between East and West. These factors make Central Asia one of the key spaces where the economic, political, and transport-logistical interests of various states and international actors intersect. In the post-Soviet period, Central Asia has become a space of interaction and competition among major global powers. Particular attention in the article is paid to the role of Russia and China as the most significant external partners of the region, significantly influencing the formation of the regional geopolitical balance. The study examines changes in the structure of regional interaction associated with the strengthening of China’s economic, investment, and infrastructural presence, particularly within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the transformation of political, military, and economic cooperation between Russia and the states of Central Asia. The paper also provides a comparative analysis of the geopolitical and economic strategies of the regional states — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The study demonstrates that Central Asian countries pursue pragmatic and multi-vector foreign policies aimed at strengthening state sovereignty, diversifying external relations, and balancing between the interests of major external actors. It is noted that the development of regional cooperation, the strengthening of institutional mechanisms of interaction, and the formation of regional initiatives may contribute to the establishment of a more stable and balanced geopolitical order in Central Asia.