IVANOV I.P., PETRENKO S.Yu. Kazakhstan’s Multi-Vector Geopolitics in the Context of a Global Hybrid War

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/jvolsu4.2026.2.6

Igor P. Ivanov,

Political Scientist, PhD Doctoral Candidate, Kazy Dikambayev Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Erkindik Boulevard 36, 720040 Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7558-9052

Svetlana Yu. Petrenko,

Candidate of Sciences (Politics), Political Scientist, Academy of Quantum Psychotechnologies, Orbita-3-26-83 Microdistrict, 050043 Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan,

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2635-3092


Abstract. Introduction. This article examines the issues of Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy in the context of a global hybrid war, which is deployed and implemented through various methods of political-diplomatic, financial-economic, information-psychological, and information-technical pressure on the country from such superpowers as the USA, Russia, and China. The peculiarity of such a hybrid war is that all countries are involved in it through their inclusion in the global information space. Kazakhstan has been in such a difficult situation since February 24, 2022, to the present. Prompt response to external threats will allow Kazakhstan to build a proactive foreign policy. Methods and materials. The authors conducted a systematic analysis of three dominant vectors of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy in the context of a global hybrid war based on the concept of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy outlined by Zh.-K. Tokayev and official documents of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan published after February 24, 2022. Analysis and results. In this article, three dominant vectors in Kazakhstan’s foreign policy were chosen as the main focus for the study: 1) Western (USA, Western countries, EU); 2) Russian (Russian Federation); 3) Chinese. Based on the main provisions of the concept of balance of power and the presence of international organizations and alliances reflecting the interests of all actors in the system of international relations, priority partners in Kazakhstan’s foreign policy were identified: the USA, EU countries, Russia, and China, and their spheres of influence and interests were highlighted. A comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the multi-vector course of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy confirmed that in the context of global destabilization, this is the only acceptable strategy of the country’s foreign policy, ensuring its sovereignty. Authors’ contribution. The research of methodology development, source selection, and collection of empirical data were carried out by S.Yu. Petrenko The analysis of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy across its main foreign policy vectors, as well as the preparation of analytical conclusions, was conducted by I.P. Ivanov.

Key words: Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy, global hybrid war, China, Russia, USA.

Citation. Ivanov I.P., Petrenko S.Yu. Kazakhstan’s Multi-Vector Geopolitics in the Context of a Global Hybrid War. Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya 4. Istoriya. Regionovedenie. Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya [Science Journal of Volgograd State University. History. Area Studies. International Relations], 2026, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 62-74. (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/jvolsu4.2026.2.6

Kazakhstan’s Multi-Vector Geopolitics in the Context of a Global Hybrid War © 2026 by Ivanov I.P., Petrenko S.Yu.  is licensed under CC BY 4.0 

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