The Modern Gambit in the Eurasian Version of the “Great Game”

On the fields of the “Great Game” another party of confrontation between the two main world civilizations — maritime and continental, the successors and followers of the Anglo-Saxons (USA) against the Eurasian continental power (Russia) is unfolding. This is not the first batch and, alas, not the last. The confrontation originates from the struggle for control over the Mediterranean Sea in the distant 18th century between Russia and the British Empire, which started the “Great Game” with the Maltese party in September 1800. UK-British Empire-then USA vs. Russia-Russian Empire-Soviet Union-Russian Federation. In total more than 220 years. The game continues.

Aim. The aim of the study is to solve the scientific problem of determining the national interests of Russia in the modern version of the “Great Game”.

Tasks. To achieve the goal of the study, the following tasks are solved: to identify the geopolitical and economic components of Russia’s national interests within the regional space of the modern version of the confrontation and to determine the possibilities for realizing these interests.

Methods. This paper uses the methodological tools of spatial economics and the theory of new economic geography, which makes it possible to combine geopolitical and economic (geo-economic) imperatives in a localized space when coordinating joint activities. The action takes place in the southwestern borderlands of Russia and covers the waters and lands of the Azov basin and the Northern Black Sea region, as a “prefield” to ensure Russia’s maritime access to world markets via the southern route.

Conclusions. The conclusions of the study are that essentially two strategic tasks are being solved in this region — establishing control over communications and energy resources on the basis of coordinating Russia’s military and economic activities in the waters and on the coast of the Azov and Black Seas in order to ensure the “connectivity” of the country’s territory with southwest. Initially, the conflict was based on the struggle for control over energy resources and, first of all, natural gas and communications for the delivery of the latter to the West, which seems to be very problematic in modern conditions. However, this is the reason for the continuation of the “Great Game”.

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