The role of Russia’s energy diplomacy in the Eurasian energy security architecture

This study aims to explain the role of Russia's energy diplomacy in shaping and restructuring the Eurasian energy security architecture. In recent decades, energy has become one of the most important instruments of power and geopolitical influence for states, and Russia, relying on oil and gas reserves, pipeline networks and strategic location, used energy diplomacy to secure national interests and maintain influence. This research adopts a qualitative approach and descriptive-analytical method, using a comparative case study to examine Russia's energy diplomacy in three regions: Europe, Central Asia and Caucasus and East Asia. Data were collected from documentary sources, international reports, official documents academic articles analyzed using process tracing and comparative analysis. Findings show Russia's energy diplomacy has shifted from a traditional model of regional hegemony to eastward pivot strategy. Furthermore, use of energy as political pressure tool against Europe has reduced European countries' trust in Russia and accelerated diversification of energy sources. At same time, expansion of China's energy cooperation with Central Asian countries has weakened Russia's monopoly in Eurasian energy market. As a result, Eurasian energy security architecture is transitioning from centralized structure under Russian hegemony toward a multipolar, competitive order based on diverse actors and energy routes.