RUSSIA'S ENERGY STRATEGY AS A TOOL OF GEOPOLITICAL INFLUENCE

This paper examines Russia’s energy strategy as a key instrument of geopolitical influence in the contemporary international system. Russia possesses vast reserves of oil and natural gas, which play a crucial role in both its domestic economy and foreign policy. The study analyzes how Russia leverages its energy exports to influence political and economic relations, particularly with Europe and Asia. Furthermore, the paper explores the impact of Western sanctions and the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the transformation of Russia’s energy policy. While sanctions have reduced Russia’s access to European markets, the country has successfully redirected its energy exports toward Asian economies, especially China and India. The findings suggest that although Russia has faced significant geopolitical challenges, its economy has demonstrated resilience due to strong energy demand from emerging markets. The study concludes that Russia’s energy strategy is increasingly shifting toward Asia, reshaping global energy dynamics and geopolitical alignments.