‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Abstract China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) presents a novel and distinct paradigm from the post-World War II Atlanticist strategy, emphasizing sustainable development, economic connectivity, and multilateral cooperation, positioning itself as an alternative to security-centered approaches within Eurasia’s geopolitical order. This article examines the question of what goals, functions, and implications the integration of the BRI with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)—as two major non-Western regional integration projects led by China and Russia—entails for emerging Eurasian regionalism. A comparative analysis of these two initiatives reveals that although each has its own institutional logic and strategic framework, their convergence can provide an effective platform to enhance economic, security, and institutional cooperation in Eurasia and serve as a foundation for the transition towards a multipolar global order. The findings indicate that this integration not only strengthens economic and infrastructural convergence but also encompasses elements for redefining the international order, countering Western unilateralism, and shaping an economic security architecture across Greater Eurasia. Utilizing a historical-comparative methodology and relying on library and online data sources, this article seeks to elucidate the logic behind the integration of these two initiatives and how it influences the emerging economic-political structures in Eurasia, as well as the mechanisms for consolidating a multipolar global order. The study primarily focuses on analyzing the objectives, prospects, and prerequisites of multilateral relations between China and the member states of the EAEU.

Abstract Since Russia's war with Georgia in 2008, the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, its intervention in the Syrian conflict in direct opposition to Western interests, the invasion of eastern Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and its interference in the affairs of other countries, discussions about Russia's behavior and intentions have increased significantly in areas that have geographical proximity to Russia. Especially since the "Ukrainian issue" has a prominent non-geopolitical feature, and there are many "nation-states" with this feature in Russia's neighborhood and surroundings. The study of Russian foreign policy trends in the Nordic-Baltic region and the influential component of Russia's "compatriots abroad" can shed light on geopolitical trends in the Nordic and Baltic regions. The main question of this article is how the security dilemma has affected the relations between Russia and the Nordic-Baltic countries? Based on Russia’s understanding of the security dilemma, this research examines the issue that the security dilemma has expanded the scope of Moscow’s security threats to the Baltic and Nordic regions. “Uncertainty,” “self-reliance,” and “anarchy” in Russia’s foreign policy behavior have led to the weakening of national security dilemma in the Nordic-Baltic countries. This research will attempt to analyze Russia’s behavior in dealing with the Nordics and Baltics using the logic of the security dilemma.

Abstract This article traces India and China's rivalry in the Indo-Pacific as a newly emerging pivot region. These recent developments, which have been extremely violent and include military conflicts with casualties, have greatly damaged bilateral relations. While examining the reasons for the fall of bilateral relations to the lowest level, this article answers the question of how the Indo-Pacific structure has placed India and China in a competitive relationship with each other. The hypothesis of the article is that apart from specific bilateral disputes, Sino-Indian relations have been affected by global and regional developments. The increase in tension between the United States of America and China, and the evolution of the Indo-Pacific structure are among the reasons that have increased the distance and mistrust between the two countries. China's efforts in the fight for strategic areas, China's increasing influence in India's neighboring countries and the Belt and Road Initiative on the one hand, and India's actions in the form of establishing strategic alliances, the quadrilateral security dialogue and the Look East policy on the other hand, on the neighboring countries. It has been influential and has forced them to make complex choices in the field of political-security interactions and commercial-economic development.