Russia Is Losing Its Near Abroad

Abstract

Jeffrey Mankoff of INSS writes this piece for Foreign Affairs. The article examines U.S. policy opportunities in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, where regional governments seek greater coordination and diversified partnerships beyond Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran. Washington can discreetly support these efforts by lowering barriers to trade, facilitating the entry of Western—particularly American—firms into energy, infrastructure, and critical minerals projects, and emphasizing economic cooperation through forums such as the C5+1 ministerial conference. While domestic politics in these states may diverge from U.S. preferences, their shared interest in resisting Russian dominance creates strategic alignment with Washington. Sustained U.S. engagement, calibrated to empower local actors while promoting diversified economic and political ties, advances both regional resilience and America’s broader objective of preventing the reemergence of a Russian sphere of influence in Eurasia.

Document Type

Article

Topic(s)

National Security, Strategic Competition, Great Power Competition

Region(s)

South Caucasus, Central Asia, Eurasia

Publication Date

7-24-2025

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