Instruments of American influence on the development of post-Soviet integration in 1991–2021

The article analyzes the position of the United States in relation to Chinese and Russian integration initiatives in the post-Soviet space. The instruments of US policy regarding post-Soviet integration were intended to facilitate the implementation of American interests in the region. They met the objectives of preventing the emergence of a competitor to the United States and including the post-Soviet countries in the "Western world of democracies". The main instruments were identified in the early 1990s and were used until 2021: state and non-governmental financial assistance for supporting the political forces of the former Soviet republics whose activities were beneficial to Washington, pro-Western reforms and disarmament; political support for democratic reforms aimed at including countries in the American (Western, Euro-Atlantic) zone of influence; involving Western partner countries and international structures in the implementation of Washington's policy in the region. Later, along with them, they were used: humanitarian partnership, cultural, educational, and scientific ties aimed at increasing the attractiveness of close relations with the West (actively discussed during the presidency of W. Clinton); pro-American integration projects for the former Soviet republics (created during the administrations of W. Clinton, G. W. Bush, B. Obama and D. Trump); American military presence in Central Asia and the military cooperation with the countries of the region after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; economic sanctions against Russia and China (second Obama administration, presidency of D. Trump); political leverage in the form of manipulating the position of the international community (actively used by D. Trump). The listed instruments created a threat to the activities of non-pro-American integration projects.