Russia’s positioning in Eurasia in the context of energy geopolitics: Gazprom and strategic pipelines

Abstract

This study examines how Russia utilizes its energy resources, particularly natural gas, as a strategic instrument in its foreign policy, highlighting the country’s pivotal role in Eurasian geopolitics. The involvement of Gazprom, a state-controlled energy giant, in Russia’s foreign policy initiatives underscores the dual function of energy exports as both economic assets and geopolitical tools. In this framework, energy emerges not merely as a source of revenue but as a means of projecting power, with pipeline diplomacy constituting a key mechanism for reasserting regional influence. Through the lens of theoretical perspectives on energy geopolitics, this paper evaluates Gazprom’s strategic role and examines Russia’s approach to the Eurasian energy landscape via major pipeline projects, including Nord Stream, TurkStream, and the Power of Siberia. The analysis suggests that these infrastructural connections transcend mutual energy interdependence, enabling Russia to exert political leverage over recipient states. Ultimately, the study argues that Russia’s energy policy reflects a reconfiguration of classical geopolitical strategies, positioning energy as a central force in the evolving power dynamics of the Eurasian region.