‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Sanctions, BRICS, and the Eurasian Economic Union

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Hamid Ramazanpur 1
Majid Tavasoli Roknabadi 2

1 PhD student in International Relations, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor of Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/ca.2026.2085553.1984
Abstract
In today's world, economic sanctions are one of the main foreign policy tools of Western countries to exert pressure on target countries in order to change their political and economic behavior. In addition to having direct effects on the economy and domestic politics of the countries under sanctions, these sanctions cause changes in international relations and strengthen regional cooperation. The main question of this article is to what extent have Western sanctions played a role in strengthening the position of BRICS and the Eurasian Economic Union between 2012 and 2024? The main hypothesis of the article is that these sanctions have led to changes in the trade and economic patterns of these organizations and have accelerated economic processes independent of the West. In this study, using a comparative analysis method based on documentary sources and historical data, the development and strengthening process of these organizations in the face of Western sanctions has been examined. The results show that Western sanctions, especially after political and economic crises in the member states of these organizations, have acted as a factor in increasing economic, trade, and political cooperation among BRICS and Eurasian Economic Union members. Ultimately, this study concludes that Western sanctions can play a positive role in strengthening non-Western organizations, but there are several challenges in the field of internal integration and resource management that require further attention.

Keywords

Western sanctions
BRICS
Eurasian Economic Union
regional organizations
economic cooperation
foreign policy
Subjects
‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal
Volume 32, Issue 134
Spring 2026
Pages 155-174

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