Sino-Russian geopolitical interests in Central Asia: A study in competition and cooperation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59992/IJLRS.2026.v5n9p2الكلمات المفتاحية:
China، Russia، Central Asia، Geopolitical Interests، International System، Competitive Partnership، Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)الملخص
This study aims to examine the nature of the geopolitical interests of both China and Russia in Central Asia amid the accelerating geopolitical transformations taking place within the international system. It focuses on analyzing the overlap of the strategic and geopolitical interests of both parties within the region. The study is based on the significance of Central Asia as a pivotal region in the heart of Eurasia, owing to its vast energy resources and strategic geographical position that connects East and West, which has made it an arena for both international competition and cooperation simultaneously.
The study concludes that Sino-Russian relations in Central Asia are characterized by a pattern of “competitive partnership,” whereby both parties cooperate in confronting Western influence and promoting a multipolar international order through institutional frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS group, with the aim of coordinating security and economic policies, while simultaneously competing for economic and strategic influence within the region. The study also indicates that the rise of China’s economic role, alongside the continuation of Russia’s security and military presence, has contributed to reshaping the balance of power in Central Asia within a framework based on pragmatic cooperation and non-confrontational competition.
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