In their article, published by Rosa Luxembourg Foundation’s Representative Office in Central Asia as proceedings of the international conference on “Central Asia in the Face of Global Economic Transformation: Assessment and Forecasting”, organized jointly with UWED, Ubaydullo Khujabekov and Ashwin Raghuraman examine how renewable energy has become a strategic arena in which Central Asian states navigate competition among major external actors.

The authors argue that green energy is no longer merely a developmental priority, but a geopolitical instrument through which countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan seek to diversify partnerships, strengthen sovereignty and reduce long-standing structural dependencies.

The article contrasts the approaches of the three key players shaping the region’s energy landscape. Russia and China are portrayed as providers of immediate, tangible solutions through legacy infrastructure, fossil fuel supplies and fast-moving investment projects, albeit at the cost of deepening dependency. By contrast, the European Union advances a longer-term, governance-oriented model under initiatives such as Global Gateway, linking renewable energy investment with regulatory reform, transparency and sustainable development standards.

Ultimately, the authors show that Central Asian states are not passive objects of great-power rivalry. Instead, they actively balance these competing offers, leveraging renewable energy to pursue a multipolar energy future that enhances resilience, policy autonomy and regional cooperation. The article positions green energy as a key strategic lever through which Central Asia can redefine its role in the evolving Eurasian and global order.

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