Spatial Approach to Studying Regional Security in Central Asia

The article presents the results of a study that employed a spatial approach to examine the formation and evolution of national and regional security systems in Central Asia. The study introduces the concept of the density of the defense policy space as an assessment of the quality and reliability of the regulatory and practical security system and the depth of involvement of external players in its formation. The relevance of assessing the contribution of each player in establishing a regional security system lies in the fact that Central Asia is undergoing a new stage of competition between major players for in uence. The proposed package of projects by external players includes initiatives for defense cooperation and interaction in the eld of military-technical cooperation. Since gaining independence in 1991, the regional states have relied on the Russian Federation to guarantee their security. In the current climate, it is important to assess the impact of the initiatives and projects of major actors such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the United States, Türkiye and other major actors on the Russian-Central Asian common defense policy space. The article analyzes the region’s existing security architecture at the time of the collapse of the USSR, the risks and challenges faced by the countries during the period of independence, as well as the initiatives and mechanisms employed by regional countries and external actors to ensure security, using a spatial approach. The study’s main conclusion asserts that, after a series of crises, countries in the region ultimately formed a closed model of regional security based on security guarantees from the Russian Federation and signi cant political support from the PRC, having tested a balanced and diversi ed foreign policy defense model. Western countries have failed to secure the status of a security partner for Central Asian countries, with the exception of speci c areas of cooperation in educational, peacekeeping, and biological programs.