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

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