Overview & Context: Central Asia and major nations across the Global South have become focal points for great-power diplomacy. Major powers—including the United States, China, Russia, and the EU—are competing to expand diplomatic and defense ties across Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America.
Geopolitical Impact: High-level diplomatic visits and regional summits (such as the Russia-Africa Summit) underscore a multipolar contest for trade corridors, rare-earth access, and political backing in multilateral institutions like the UN. Many middle-power states are adopting flexible, non-aligned foreign policies to maximize economic benefits from competing powers without making exclusive defense commitments.