Influence Strategies of External Actors in Russia’s Near Abroad amid Special Military Operation

The article is devoted to the analysis of the latest trends in the indirect political influence of external actors — China, Turkey, UK, the USA and the European Union — in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member-states through humanitarian and economic projects. The special features of the approaches of the leading actors are brought to light, including emphasis on military-ideological expansion (Western countries), trade and economic advancement (China) and cultural-ideological penetration (Turkey). It is concluded that there was no fundamental revision of indirect influence strategies after the start of Russia’s Special Military Operation, but significant adjustments in methods took place. Non-Western countries are still trying to work in the region mainly in the framework of globalization, i.e. multivector relatively peaceful coexistence and competition.