Central Asia shifts from geopolitical backyard to strategic crossroads

Central Asian states are transitioning from being viewed as a geopolitical “backyard” to a strategic “crossroads.” While the region has historically maintained deep security, economic, and cultural ties to Russia through institutions like the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the era of a single power defining the region’s trajectory is ending.

This shift is driven by several converging trends, including the war in Ukraine, the expansion of new connectivity corridors, and China’s increasing influence. Additionally, deeper engagement from Europe, Türkiye, and the Gulf states is providing Central Asian nations with more options to reduce dependence on any single power. Rather than merely navigating external pressures, these states are increasingly using great-power rivalry to expand their own strategic maneuverability and autonomy.