Shifting Geopolitics: The Impact of U.S. Foreign Policy on Russia, the EU, and Central Asia

During the first months in office, the second Trump administration has dramatically shifted the U.S. foreign policy across key domains, recalibrating relations with traditional allies and foes. Shocks are felt across the globe, but the EU-Ukraine-Russia axis is currently the main faultline of the ongoing geopolitical earthquake. European countries generally perceive the new U.S. approach as a grave challenge to the continent’s security and global order. At the same time, Russia’s leadership welcomes the change and senses excellent opportunities to promote its interests. Nearby countries of Central Asia, having based their policies on the soft balancing of Russia, China, and the West (the United States and the EU/European countries), now need to re-orient and position themselves in this rapidly changing environment. A panel of Davis Center scholars will examine the impact of the U.S. rapid policy shifts on the external policy of the EU and the foreign policies of Russia and Central Asian countries and discuss their longer-term implications for the Eurasian and global security.