Kazakhstan’s Multi-Vector Foreign Policy: A Delicate Balancing Act

Kazakhstan is one of the few post-soviet countries to have avoided conflict while emerging as a medium-sized geopolitical player,  after gaining independence in 1991. Maneuvering between neighboring geopolitical giants, China and Russia, the country has always built strong partnerships with the United States, countries of Europe and Central Asia. Kazakhstan is also one of the first post-soviet countries to have defined and demarcated its state borders in historically record time. Pragmatism, consistency and a multi-vectored approach have been the fundamental characteristics of Kazakhstan's foreign policy over the past 30 years. To discuss the country’s foreign policy strategy and global political trends, Yerzhan Saltybayev, Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, and Iskander Akylbayev, Executive Director of Kazakhstan’s Council on Foreign Relations, joined Lyazzat Shatayeva for this episode of IMPACTFUL.