The Role of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation towards the Countries of Central Asia

The study examines the diminishing role of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the implementation of the Russian Federation’s foreign policy towards the countries of Central Asia. Within this framework, the aim of the study is to assess the role of the CIS in Russia’s foreign policy concepts concerning Central Asian states, particularly in the context of achieving strategic objectives aimed at constructing a multipolar world order and advancing Russia’s interests in the Central Asian region. To achieve this goal, the research involves an analysis of the evolution of the CIS’s role in Russian foreign policy concepts from 1993 to 2023, alongside an examination of the factors influencing observed changes. Furthermore, the study evaluates the prospects for cooperation between Russia and Central Asian countries in the CIS framework, considering the overarching strategic orientations of Russia’s foreign policy course and its regional interests. Based on an analysis of strategic foreign policy planning documents, the article concludes that Russia has increasingly emphasized the significance of the CIS, attributing to this form of integration a distinctive role as a communicative diplomatic platform. This platform facilitates the maintenance of multilateral dialogue with Central Asian countries and serves as a mechanism for the development of bilateral relations.