Regional and International Challenges to Russian Influence in Central Asia: A Geopolitical Study

Abstract

Summary

This study seeks to analyze the geopolitical significance of Central Asia within the broader context of global power dynamics, viewing it as the heartland where the strategic interests of major powers intersect. The importance of this research lies in its examination of the region as a meeting point between geography and politics—an area enclosed between Russia, China, Iran, and Turkey that has become a central arena for competition over influence, resources, and transportation corridors. The research employs a geographic–analytical methodology combining spatial comparison with political interpretation while incorporating a historical dimension to trace the evolution of Russian influence from the imperial period to the contemporary Russian Federation.