Central Asia as the Grand Chessboard: the EU, China, Russia’s Regional Strategies and the C5’s Responses

Abstract Central Asia is an integral part of the concurrent geopolitical marathon in the 21st century. This region has been of great imperative concern for all the rising and incumbent hegemons of the international arena. The dissolution of the Soviet Union has garnered the multidimensional speculations to the Central Asian countries and gave a new stream of struggle for geopolitical clout among the influential actors (Russia, China, and European Union) in the geopolitical canvas. The current political atmosphere immaculately exemplifies the amplified power dynamics in the new global order. The contest for Central Asia act as an immediate chessboard in which the rooks and bishops along with their overlapping interests are trying hard to get the king’s worth. Nevertheless, the self-proclaimed pawns of this grand chessboard (Central Asian States) are unaware of their own potential of being a checkmate in this conundrum. The approach towards the Central Asia by Russia, China, and EU often differs from each other. However, interests and strategic vulnerabilities have put these giants in the same spectrum. Russia’s objective in this region is to maintain the neocolonial status with the tool of Eurasianism to consolidate its position in the region. China’s foremost ambition in the region is to preserve the Sino-Initiatives integrity (BRI) and to accommodate the regional connectivity with its global economic agendas in the region. Surprisingly, the primary ambition of all stakeholders overlaps with each other which elevates their geostrategic rivalry and possibly paves the way for Central Asian’s strategic autonomy. This research paper is going to conduct a comprehensive and qualitative analysis of this intricate marathon by using Heartland theory for identifying the specific and significant objectives of this unusual quest for Central Asia. Firstly, it will focus that, How the overlapping interests of the stakeholders can become the competing threshold along with analyzing the aftermath of Russia-Ukraine Crisis? Moreover, it will further extend its analytical view on How the Central Asian nations can maintain the more pragmatic, realistic, and inclusive approach towards every stakeholder in this great game without facing any geopolitical trials and tribulations?