The Transformation of the Foreign Trade Turnover of Russia and Kazakhstan in the Context of Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Instability

The article considers the main trends, factors and tendencies of development of mutual trade between Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the conditions of sanctions pressure by the European Union and the United States. The research is based on a system approach, utilizing descriptive and comparative analytical methods. During the analysis and evaluation of indicators of foreign economic activity the statistical base of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation for the period of 2018-2021 and data of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period of 2022-2023 were used. The results of the study allowed for identifying the main trends in foreign trade turnover, for determining the promising segments of the commodity structure of imports and exports, as well as the factors affecting the growth and decline in mutual trade. It is thus concluded that there is a growing intensity of the Russian Federation’s involvement in the formation of its foreign economic relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan. This is accompanied by a notable increase in industrial exports and a reduction in dependence on imports. The Russian Federation succeeded in reversing the preceding trend and markedly augmented the value of mutual trade. The changed situation will contribute to the preservation and enhancement of cooperative ties within the framework of production chains between the countries due to a high degree of correspondence between the commodity structure of exports and imports. Based on the analysis, the trends and strategic guidelines for the processes of transformation of foreign economic relations between the countries were formulated. The potential for future trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan will be largely dependent on the rate at which these economies adapt to one another. This process is intricately linked to the formation of technological and investment ties within the context of specific projects. Furthermore, it has the capacity to enhance the influence of Russian regions situated close to Kazakhstan on markets within Asia.