Russia's Regional and Global Integration Strategy: An Evaluation on CIS, CSTO, EAEU AND BRICS

This study analyzes Russia’s participation in organizations such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) as a reflection of its regional and global policy strategies. Historically, Russia has aimed to consolidate its status as a global power, particularly in its near abroad, and these platforms have been considered important tools in the realization of its foreign policy objectives. Through active participation in these organizations, Russia seeks to promote its strategic interests, reinforce its influence in Eurasia, and maintain a multipolar world vision to balance Western alliances. However, Russia’s objectives are constrained by internal challenges within these organizations as well as by global developments. Diverging interests among member states, power asymmetries, and periodic political tensions limit Moscow’s influence over these platforms. The findings indicate that although Russia attempts to use these multilateral organizations to consolidate its power and promote the ideal of a multipolar world order, these platforms remain insufficient in fully counterbalancing Western influence and in realizing Moscow’s envisioned global balance.