Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's trade with the Central Asian states experienced a sharp decline, but these economic relations were revived in the early 2000s. Russia successfully established cooperative arrangements in the energy sector with all five Central Asian republics and facilitated the entry of Russian companies into their markets. Additionally, Russia initiated several multilateral trade blocs in the region, formally designed to enhance economic integration among all members. However, Moscow's primary objective was to maintain these countries' critical dependence on Russia and to exert influence over their domestic and foreign policies.

This article, focusing on the past decade, examines the trends and patterns of Russia's economic diplomacy in Central Asia, demonstrating how Moscow seeks to preserve its position in the region. Through an analysis of key domains such as trade, investment, and infrastructure projects, the article aims to elucidate the extent to which economic diplomacy has served as an instrument of Russian influence in Central Asia and the factors that have challenged this process. Exploring these dynamics can provide a deeper understanding of Russia's economic role in Central Asia while outlining prospective trajectories for these countries' economic relations within the emerging multipolar global order.