The article provides an overview of the nuclear energy state in the countries of Central Asia. An analysis is given of the countries’ resource and production capabilities for the nuclear industry development. The main focus is on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the countries with the largest uranium reserves. They understand the economic feasibility of industry developing and nuclear power plants building on their territory. The issue of uranium waste storage facilities was considered separately.

The article is aimed at substantiating the need to develop and implement a targeted policy of economic diplomacy aimed at reducing and eliminating threats to economic security. The object of the research is the state and assessment of internal, regional and global threats and their impact on the economic growth of the newly independent states. Based on the main goal, we set the task of identifying various goals in foreign economic relations developed by the post-Soviet countries, as well as various approaches and goals in their regional integration. In this regard, the article analyzes global uncertainty and other risks, global trends and events affecting economic security. Particular emphasis is placed on analyzing the prospects for the transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world, in which it is possible to combine national and global interests. In this regard, the impact of local, regional and global threats is considered from the point of view of common obstacles to the economic growth of post-Soviet countries. In an attempt to find ways to overcome these threats, modern methods of economic diplomacy are highlighted, and the creation of a new regional grouping the EAEU is assessed as a new format for combating economic threats, in particular, evaluating the concept of the Greater Eurasian Partnership as an important tool of economic diplomacy. As practical recommendations, specific priorities of economic threats for their elimination and maintenance of economic security with the help of economic diplomacy are presented.

The article examines the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from an economic perspective as well as from the standpoint of compliance with the interests of the main actors: Russia, Germany and the USA. The authors consider the chronology of the gas pipeline approval and construction. The article gives a detailed description of the obstacles to the implementation of the project that exist at the pan-European level (the third energy package of the European Union) and directly in Germany (the Green Party), on the level of individual EU countries (Denmark, Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic States), and the United States (the CAATSA law, the bill “On European Energy Security”). The authors analyze the opinions of Russian, German and American expert communities and the media regarding the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline before and after the German-American agreement was reached in July 2021. In addition, the gas pipeline project was considered from the point of view of the geopolitical interests of the Russian Federation, Germany and the United States. The main purpose of this article is to characterize the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project in the context of meeting the expectations of actors associated with it. The paper assesses the position of the Russian Federation in the issue under consideration and puts forward the authors’ proposals for the transformation of the foreign policy activities of the Russian Federation in relation to the post-Soviet countries. It is concluded that in its current form, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline meets the interests of Germany, while the Russian side, although it will draw economic benefits from it, will be more constrained by the tools of its policy towards the “old transit” states in particular and the entire post-Soviet space as a whole.

The authors of the article examine Turkey’s foreign policy strategies, the current features of its policy, and Ankara’s policy in the Balkans. This analysis is carried out from the angle of Russian-Turkish relations. According to the authors the actual conceptual basis of the Turkish foreign policy strategy is in the stage of yet another transformation. At the same time, the goal is to ensure the long-term interests of the country and create a reality where the Turkish Republic could occupy a strong and significant position in the new post-turbulent world. It is planned to implement this on the basis of Ahmet Davutoglu’s theory of Strategic depth in the context of “zero problems with neighbors” concept and Admiral Ramadan Cem Gyurdeniz’s Blue Homeland doctrine. Both strategies are based on the strategy of advanced defense, which implies the security of the state at distant borders. It has been established that the Afghan problem has an increasing impact on Turkey’s foreign policy, since there are already about 4 million refugees in the country, including from 300 to 400 thousand of Afghan citizens. After the seizure of power by the Taliban movement (banned in the Russian Federation) in Afghanistan, the flow of refugees from this country is increasing. As a result, Ankara seeks to transit them to Europe, preferably through Bulgaria and the countries of the Balkan region, given that Albania and Kosovo are ready to accept Afghan refugees. As the authors noted, Turkey’s policy in the Balkans is determined by the fact that Turkey positions itself as a transport and energy hub, which is mainly confirmed by the expansion of Russian gas supplies through the Turkish Stream underwater gas pipeline. However, at the same time Ankara promotes the supply of Azerbaijani natural gas to the Balkans through the Southern Gas Corridor, which leads to the clash of Russian and Turkish interests in the region. Though such supplies are limited to Bulgaria in the amount of 1 billion m³ of gas per year. In addition, Turkey is actively using «soft power» to expand its influence in the Balkans, primarily among the Muslim population of the countries located there. But it is forced to take into account the interests of the USA and the EU in the region. Based on the analysis, the authors concluded that relations between Russia and Turkey in the Balkans may become aggravated, especially if Ankara continues the policy of «squeezing out» the Russian Federation from Serbia, significantly increases the supply of its own weapons and Azerbaijani natural gas to this region.

The coronavirus pandemic, beginning in 2020, adversely affected the development of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The countries of the integration union faced economic problems. First the EAEU states were forced to increase spending on combating the pandemic and its consequences. Added budget cost and attracting external funds had a negative impact on the macroeconomic indicators in all states of the union. As a result, mutual trade within the integration union decreased. The situation began to change in 2021, when the EAEU countries managed to adapt their national economies to changes in the economic sphere. Measures taken in the countries of the integration union had a positive effect. Macroeconomic indicators were improved, the countries expanded interaction in foreign trade as well as within the integration union.

The development of the EAEU coincided with growing contradictions between Russia and the United States, which continued to actively use the sanctions policy, changes in political and economic relations between Belarus and the West, price changes in the world oil and gas markets.

The key objective of the EAEU countries is still by far enhanced interaction in the trade and economic sphere and overcoming the hurdles within the integration union. The need for removing barriers to internal trade within the EAEU, creating a mechanism ensuring the interests of the states in energy, industry and transport is therefore acute. Thus, moving to a qualitatively new level of the integration union development, which will have a positive effect on the development of national economies, is high on the agenda for the EAEU countries.

The historical development of multi-speed form of integration in the EAEU is considered in the article. The very formation of such an integration unit on the international stage is an indicator of a multi-speed model in which the state goes into closer cooperation in the speed that is dependent on its capabilities and interests. Hence the EAEU was formed as a result of the Eurasian integration process, which had been carried out within the framework of the CIS, the Customs Community and the Eurasian Economic Community. The necessity to adapt new functional models to deal with the challenges of new reality is highlighted. RKDF (Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund) is mentioned as an instance of one of the mechanisms of multispeed integration, which is used in the process of integration of the Kyrgyz Republic into the EAEU. It is proposed to expand the practice of the RKDF and develop the project activities of the union within the framework of the Eurasian Development Bank and apply it on the scale of the EAEU when expanding the union or deepening the ties of its member states.

The paper is focused on the effect of the position of Russia in the world economy on its economic development. Methodological framework of the analysis is based on the World-System approach. For the latter it is typical toe treat capitalism as a hierarchical system of unequal relations under which the core (developed countries) appropriates a significant part of incomes created by the labor of the population of the periphery (the developing countries). Russia occupies the semi-peripheral position in this system. As a result, the country demonstrates the following: export-led growth on the bases of energy resources, decline of manufacturing and low rates of technological development, high rates of capital flight, low share of accumulation of the fixed capital stock in GDP. Authoritarian model of corporate governance plays a special role. It is characterized by instability of control of the owners over their assets and by short-term time horizon of its business strategy. This assumes low interest of the Russian business in investment and innovations.

The article considers approaches to the functioning and development of the economy in the conditions of innovation activity. The idea of integration and globalization in the conditions of innovative development and digitalization is given. The article provides a basic description of the concepts of machine learning, Big Data and blockchain. The author describes the specifics of the use of new IT technologies in the Russian and foreign fuel and energy complex. The process of digitalization of the Russian economy and the development of digital currency is investigated.

In the conditions of global competition, those countries that have been able to create a developed infrastructure and institutions for the development, commercialization and implementation of innovations have an advantage. Nowadays, at the time when all countries, even though in different degrees, are experiencing the consequences of the financial and economic crisis, it is clear that ones will outcome the current situation with the least losses who will timely take measures on re-equipment of production and develop new technologies, which ensures the production of competitive products with the lowest costs. One of the most important measures to overcome the consequences of the financial and economic crisis is the accelerated innovative development of the fuel and energy complex. This direction has been and remains a priority in the policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The energy sector of Uzbekistan is the basic branch of the national economy of the Republic and, having significant production and scientific potential, has a significant impact on the development of the entire national economic complex. Continuous electrification has created an opportunity for the development of industrial and social infrastructure of cities and rural areas of Uzbekistan, the formation of industry, construction industry. Currently, taking into account the self-sufficiency of the republic, measures are being taken to meet its needs in the medium and long term with the necessary high-quality energy resources on the basis of sustainable innovative development of the industry.

The article examines economic relations between the Republic of Italy and the Islamic Republic of Iran, assessing the factors influencing the development of these relations and their significance for each country. As the author shows, bilateral relations are particularly influenced by Italy’s membership in the European Union, as well as the sanctions regime initiated against Iran by the United States and supported by Brussels. However, even despite the difficult international situation, for the past two decades Italy has consistently ranked among Iran’s top three European partners. The article examines in detail the structure of Italy’s exports and imports to Iran and vice versa, and provides an outline of major recent Italian investment projects in Iran. The author concludes that, despite all unfavourable factors, both countries seek dialogue and try to maintain economic relations wherever possible. Bilateral cooperation may be very promising in the future – but only given that the sanctions against Iran are significantly eased.