BETWEEN GIANTS: HOW KAZAKHSTAN NAVIGATES GLOBAL POWER RIVALRY IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

examines Kazakhstan’s foreign policy strategy in the context of intensifying geopolitical competition in Central Asia. Historically, the region has been an arena of rivalry among great powers, beginning with the confrontation between the Russian and British Empires in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Today, this competition has transformed into a multipolar struggle involving Russia, China, and the United States. The study analyzes Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy, which seeks to balance relations with these major actors while safeguarding national sovereignty and economic development. Special attention is given to Kazakhstan’s energy resources and its role as a key transit hub linking Asia and Europe. The article explores Kazakhstan’s strategic partnerships with Russia in security and military-technical cooperation, with China through the Belt and Road Initiative and energy infrastructure projects, and with the United States in the fields of investment, technology, and critical minerals. These relationships illustrate Kazakhstan’s efforts to diversify its foreign ties and avoid excessive dependence on any single power. The article argues that Kazakhstan’s multi-vector approach represents a pragmatic response to the emerging multipolar international order. By adhering to principles of international law, peaceful diplomacy, and economic openness, Kazakhstan positions itself as a regional leader in Central Asia and an important actor in shaping regional stability and cooperation amid growing global polarization.