ВЛИЯНИЕ ГЕОПОЛИТИЧЕСКИХ ФАКТОРОВ НА ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЙ КУРС И ИНТЕГРАЦИОННЫЕ ПРОЦЕССЫ СТРАН ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЙ АЗИИ

Abstract

The use of sanctions policy to compete for sales markets and to exert pressure on the governments of countries subject to sanctions has stimulated Russia to develop trade with friendly and neutral countries, to redirect the trade flows along new logistics routes and to form new supply chains. The article examines the impact of Western sanctions on the economies of the Central Asian countries and on their integration with Russia. A sharp decline in exports from Western countries to Russia is accompanied by a significant increase in exports from these countries to the countries of Central Asia, which is especially noticeable in relation to sanctioned goods. Maintaining a neutral status in the sanctions war of the United States and its allies against Russia allowed the countries of Central Asia to significantly improve their macroeconomic performance by increasing trade with Russia, including through intermediary trade. Despite official statements about the observance of the sanctions regime, the countries of Central Asia began to act as transit operators between Russia and third countries and to significantly assist the Russian economy in overcoming the negative consequences of sanctions. The study has led to the conclusion that anti-Russian sanctions encourage Russia and the countries of Central Asia to find new ways to develop regional integration in order to solve key problems of economic development, which does not prevent these countries from following their national interests.