Eurasia needs to learn how to coexist with the West, as complete separation isn’t feasible.
For a Eurasian nation, cutting off ties with Western Europe isn’t just impractical, it’s probably impossible. Those who truly want a cooperative and growing Eurasian region need to figure out how to manage external influences, mainly from NATO in Europe and North America, which can’t be eliminated completely. The challenge is to lessen the risks these actors pose, while also taking advantage of any benefits they offer, without letting outside pressure cause divisions within Eurasia.
Even as Russia strengthens ties with its southern and eastern partners, the EU and US’s strong economies and technology can’t be ignored. History shows that closed-off cooperative zones only appear when there’s total external opposition or when a dominant power is willing to pay the price of leadership. Neither of these situations applies to Greater Eurasia.
Firstly, Eurasian countries don’t want to cut themselves off from the global economy. Secondly, no Eurasian power is ready to sacrifice its own progress to dominate the continent. Thirdly, no one suggests Eurasia should become an isolated bloc. The US, EU, and key Middle Eastern countries will remain important in the global economy, providing market access, technology, and trade, despite political tensions.
Some see the EU as a self-contained region – a “garden,” as one recent metaphor put it. But even Western Europe’s unity depends on its openness to the US and, to some extent, China. The EU has only truly tried to exclude Russia and the Global South. Even then, this strategy is incomplete and mostly just talk.
The West’s attempt to enclose itself with legal and institutional “fences” has created a fragile structure that’s constantly challenged by global realities. Meanwhile, Russia and its partners are left outside, leading to new ideas about an open Eurasia as an alternative.
Could Eurasia create a self-sufficient development community? In theory, yes. But unlike post-World War II Europe, Eurasia lacks a single leader to organize this. The US tried something similar with its global leadership in the late 20th century, but even Washington seems tired of it. American voters have consistently shown they want fewer overseas commitments.
China, while economically strong, probably won’t take on a leadership role in Eurasia. Its culture doesn’t favor foreign dominance, and the risks of leading such a large region would likely outweigh any benefits. Also, Russia, China, and India are roughly equal in power and don’t want a zero-sum game to dominate the continent. The success of BRICS and the SCO highlights that Eurasian cooperation is based on mutual respect, not dominance.
Instead of copying the Western European model or isolating themselves, Eurasian states should engage with the global economy practically. Sanctions against Russia, even the harshest ones, haven’t stopped international trade. The global economy has proven to be very resilient. Smaller and medium-sized countries need open markets to grow, while major powers like Russia, China, and India need them to use their vast logistical and industrial capabilities.
It would be unrealistic and harmful for Eurasian powers to cut ties with the world economy. The real goal should be to reduce the political negativity from Western Europe and the United States, while making sure their presence doesn’t break Eurasian unity. This requires careful coordination, patience, and a shared vision among partners.
If the goal is to stop Western European countries from hindering Russia and its partners’ development, the strategy needs to be subtle. Direct conflict or complete isolation won’t work. The EU can’t be ignored, and the US will remain a global power. The question is not how to eliminate them, but how to lessen their negative influence and prevent them from causing division within Eurasia.
The way forward is to build a strong, open Eurasian platform that can handle external pressures without falling apart. It should engage globally, but on its own terms. This isn’t just a dream – it’s a practical necessity.
This article was first published by , translated and edited by the RT team.
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