INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN KAZAKHSTAN AND THE GULF STATES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ONE BELT AND ONE ROAD INITIATIVE

Abstract

The article examines the formation of a strategic partnership between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Gulf states in the context of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The relevance of the topic is due to the growing interdependence of Central Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the fields of transport, energy and investment. The study is based on an interdisciplinary approach combining methods of political analysis and international relations. Official documents, reports from international financial institutions, and statistical data for 2013–2025 were used as the empirical basis. The results show that Kazakhstan is becoming a key transit hub in Eurasia, while the Gulf states are becoming a source of capital and technology. The main areas of cooperation have been identified, including the development of port and railway infrastructure, the implementation of renewable energy projects, the creation of Islamic financial institutions, and humanitarian and cultural exchanges. Particular attention is paid to the integration of national strategies and the creation of new formats for interaction, such as the summits of Central Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and initiatives to establish a Business Council and an Investment Fund for Central Asia and the Gulf. The challenges to the sustainability of the partnership are discussed, including dependence on external capital, geopolitical competition and infrastructure constraints. The conclusion is that institutionalisation and diversification of cooperation can transform Kazakhstan and the Gulf countries into a model of interregional integration that contributes to the formation of a new architecture for the Eurasian space.