Central Asia’s Post-Ukraine Pivot: Sovereignty, Multi-Vector Balancing, and Russia’s Residual Leverage
The Diplomat’s February 2026 analysis argues Central Asia is increasingly asserting sovereign agency and diversifying partnerships, including greater engagement with the West, amid heightened sensitivity after Russia’s war in Ukraine. Despite this shift, the source notes Moscow retains considerable influence, making the region’s strategy one of multi-vector balancing rather than binary alignment.