Strategic Implications of the War in Ukraine for the Post-Soviet Space [Hardback]

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Strategic Implications of the War in Ukraine for the Post-Soviet Space

A View from Caucasus and Central Asia

Rovshan Ibrahimov, Fuad Shahbazov (Eds.)

by Rovshan Ibrahimov (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea), Fuad Shahbazov (Daniel Morgan School of National Security, US), Nurlyaiym Zhaksybayeva (Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan), Natalia Adrianna Potera (British University in Georgia, Georgia), Rustam Burnashev (Kazakh-German University, Kazakhstan), Irina Chernykh (Kazakh-German University), Ayaz Rzayev (University of Trento, Italy)

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Acknowledging that Russia’s war in Ukraine has been a game changer in European security affairs is becoming a truism. It is, therefore, very fashionable in the West to write academic books and articles on how this war is reshaping the security and defence strategies of key actors: the US, EU, NATO, European states, and Russia. Conversely, this book sheds light on how several post-Soviet states from the Caucasus and Central Asia perceive the devastating war in Ukraine and how they are striving to adjust their foreign and security policies to the ensuing challenges and opportunities emerging in their regions. On the one hand, they are keen to defend their post-Soviet statehood, national sovereignty and independence in a shifting world order increasingly marred by great power competition and conflict. On the other hand, they must reconfigure their bilateral relations and multilateral platforms for regional cooperation to strengthen their socio-economic development, and to protect national identities. The value added by this book is built upon the unique insights of regional experts in how those states are coping with the strategic implications of the sweeping geopolitical changes triggered by the war in Ukraine in both Europe and Eurasia.

Dr. George Vlad Niculescu
Head of Research
The European Geopolitical Forum, http://gpf-europe.com

This timely and analytically rich volume offers a critical regional perspective on the geopolitical impact of the Russo-Ukraine war across the South Caucasus and Central Asia. By situating the war’s consequences within broader international dynamics and the specific foreign policy adjustments of small and mid-sized states, the book significantly contributed to our understanding of how regional actors respond to major global crises. It stands out for its nuanced treatment of shifting alliances, emerging cooperation platforms, and energy-related developments, and it will serve as an essential reference for scholars and practitioners of the South Caucasus and Central Asia geopolitics.

Dr. Agha Bayramov
Department of International Relations and International Organisation
University of Groningen, Netherlands

This groundbreaking volume offers an in-depth exploration of how Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the post-Soviet space, particularly in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Through expert analyses, the book examines the far-reaching consequences of the war, including shifts in regional alliances, energy security dynamics, the rise of new cooperation platforms, and the growing role of external actors such as China and Turkey.
Through rigorous analysis, the book explores critical themes such as the shifting balance of power in the region, the re-emergence of the Organization of Turkic States, Azerbaijan’s deepening engagement with Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s strategic repositioning, and the complex interplay between Russia, China, Turkey, and the West. It also examines how regional actors are adapting to economic disruptions, energy security challe... nges, and evolving diplomatic alliances. Blending academic depth with policy relevance, "Strategic Implications of the War in Ukraine for the Post-Soviet Space" is an essential resource for scholars, analysts, and professionals in international relations, security studies, and Eurasian affairs.
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Editors’ Comments
List of Contributors
Chapter 1 Direct and Indirect Impacts of the Russo-Ukraine War on the Relations Between Azerbaijan and Central Asian States
Prof. Dr. Rovshan Ibrahimov
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Chapter 2 The Russo-Ukraine War and the Re-Emergence of the Organization of Turkic States as an Influential Transnational Organization
Fuad Shahbazov
Daniel Morgan School of National Security
Chapter 3 China and Central Asia in the Wake ... of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Ayaz Rzayev
University of Trento
Chapter 4 The Impact of the Russo-Ukraine War on Turkish-Russian Relations
Natalia Adrianna Potera
British University in Georgia
Chapter 5 Uzbekistan: Between Multi-Vector Policy and Regionalism
Dr. Rustam Burnashev
Kazakh-German University
Dr. Irina Chernykh
Kazakh-German University
Chapter 6 The Russo-Ukraine War Dynamics on External Relations of Central Asian States: Astana’s Diplomatic Stance on the Ukraine Conflict
Nurlyaiym Zhaksybayeva
Nazarbayev University
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Prof. Dr. Rovshan Ibrahimov is a political scientist and professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea. He is an expert on energy diplomacy and Eurasian affairs and has a solid background in academia and governance. Since 1999, he has taught International Relations theory, international security, and energy diplomacy at Qafqaz University in Azerbaijan while simultaneously holding the position of director of the Energy Studies Center. In 2011-2014, Dr. Rosvhan Ibrahimov was appointed as the Head of the Foreign Policy Analysis Department at the Center for Strategic Stud... ies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAM). Since 2015, he has been a Professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. His research expertise encompasses energy diplomacy, Azerbaijani foreign policy, IR theories, and conflict studies.

Mr. Fuad Shahbazov is a political scientist, lecturer, and researcher covering conflict studies, regional security of the Eurasian region, political Islam, and energy studies. In 2015, he worked as a Research Assistant at the European Policy Center based in Brussels, covering Russia and the post-Soviet region. Between 2016 and 2018, he was a Research Fellow in the Foreign Policy Analysis Department of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, covering the Caucasus and European regions. From 2018 to 2021, he was a Senior Analyst at the Center for Strategic Communications. In 2018, he became a Visiting Scholar at the Daniel Morgan School of National Security based in Washington, D.C. From 2023 to 2024, he worked as a Geopolitical Risk Analyst.
Fuad holds a BA degree in International Relations from Baku Slavonic University, a master's degree in Political Science from Vytautas Magnus University, a professional master's degree in Terrorism and Religious Extremism from the University of Bergamo, and an MSc degree in Defense and Diplomacy from the University of Durham. Currently, he is an Associate Fellow at Daniel Morgan School. Show more

Caspian energy, Middle Corridor, Azerbaijan-Central Asia, Russia-Azerbaijan, Organization of Turkic States, Russo-Ukraine war, common identity, Caspian security, Central Asia, Russian invasion of Ukraine, multivector strategy, Russia’s dominance, China’s rising influence, Turkey-Russia alliance, Black Sea security, Russian expansionism, Ukraine war, energy impact, Uzbekistan at crossroads, Uzbek-Russian partnership, Russian influence in Central Asia, multivector policy, Kazakh multivectorism, Central Asia-China, Kazakhstan-Ukraine, Russian soft power