The EU's interregional diplomacy in Central Asia under geopolitical constraints

The conference examines the EU’s mixed interregional diplomacy in Central Asia under strong geopolitical pressures. It argues that the region serves as a laboratory for observing EU external action, combining bilateral relations with interregional ambitions. Using the concepts of mixed interregionalism, hedging, and soft balancing, it shows that the EU employs both bilateral and interregional tools, while Central Asian states pursue hedging strategies to preserve autonomy. However, this interaction is constrained by geopolitical pressures, regional asymmetries, weak regional integration, and mutual perceptions. As a result, soft balancing remains fragmented, incremental, and only partially institutionalised within a constrained regional order.