A. A. Irkhin, G. L. Muradov, O. A. Moskalenko, N. E. Demeshko, V. V. Nemtsev The Black Sea Region in the Context of the Clash of Five Global Geopolitical Projections: Novorossiya, the Wider Black Sea Region, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Three Seas In

https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.134.034.202601.010-037
EDN: https://elibrary.ru/gkwiopISSN 2413-1407
УДК / UDC 327:32 ISSN 2587-8549

Abstract

Introduction. The modern Black Sea region is a strategic kernel of global geopolitical rivalry of leading powers. The events of the Crimean Spring, Crimea's reunification with the Russian Federation, and the Special Military Operation that followed initiated a fundamental revision of the post-bipolar, Western-centric model of world order, introducing escalation risks for the policies of Russia, the United States, China, the European Union, Turkey, and Iran in this macroregion. The aim of this study is to identify and characterize the geopolitical projects of Russia, the United States, Great Britain, the EU, Turkey, China, and Iran in the Black Sea region, as well as those being implemented in the Black Sea region.

Materials and Methods. The study draws on systemic, geopolitical, historical, and civilizational approaches, as well as a mapping method. Critical geopolitics methodology is applied: it analyzes how elites construct geopolitical projections, interpreting geographical and historical factors in the interests of shaping the future world order. The object of this study is the Black Sea region; the subject is the policies of these powers toward it.

Results. Five key geopolitical projections in the BSR have been identified: Novorossiya (Russia) viewed as a Russian Rimland, providing access to the southern oceanic space and countering invasion from the sea; the Wider Black Sea Region (USA) aims to displace Russia and form a ‘‘Euro-Atlantic community’’ in the eastern part of the region; the Three Seas Initiative (Britain) as an association of states of the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas, continues the historical line of containing Russia; the ‘‘Belt and Road’’ (China) makes an emphasis on the transit potential of the region as a hub between Asia and Europe; the Turkic World (Turkey) is the creation of a Turkey-centric subsystem of international relations and the implementation of the ‘‘Blue Homeland’’ maritime strategy. The role of Iran in the framework of the ‘‘Persian World’’ project, which presupposes rivalry with Turkey, is outlined.

Discussion and Conclusion. The dynamics of current military and political events demonstrate that the world is rapidly plunging into global conflict. One of the key areas of this plunging is the Black Sea region of global and regional politics. Identifying and studying the geopolitical projects of global and regional powers in this space will help us understand and shape national interests in this region, which is crucial to Russia's national security.

Keywords: Black Sea region, Novorossiya, Belt and Road Initiative, geopolitical projects, the Wider Black Sea region, the Three Seas Initiative, Turkish world

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 25-28-01354, https://rscf.ru/en/project/25-28-01354/).

For citation: Irkhin A.A., Muradov G.L., Moskalenko O.A., Demeshko N.E., Nemtsev V.V. The Black Sea Region in the Context of the Clash of Five Global Geopolitical Projections: Novorossiya, the Wider Black Sea Region, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Three Seas Initiative, and the Turkish World. Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2026;34(1):010–037. https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.134.034.202601.010-037

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About the authors:

Aleksandr А. Irkhin, Dr.Sci. (Polit.), Associate Professor, Professor of the Chair of Political Science and International Relations at the Taurida Academy of the V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Fe­deral University (4 Prospekt Vernadskogo, Simferopol 295007, Russian Federation), Chief Researcher at the Directorate of Scientific Activities of the Sevastopol State University (33 Universitetskaya St., Sevastopol 299053, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7895-550X, Researcher ID: A-4781-2019, Scopus ID: 57212405239, alex.irhin@mail.ru

Georgiy L. Muradov, Cand.Sci. (Hist.), Professor of the Chair of Comparative Political Science at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Scientific and Educational Center for Research on Problems of Russian Civilization in the Modern World, MGIMO University (76 Prospect Vernadskogo, Moscow 119454, Russian Federation), Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea (13 Prospekt Kirova, Simferopol 295005, Russian Federation), Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea to the President of the Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2806-5821, Researcher ID: IYS-1540-2023, Scopus ID: 58891619000, pprk@ppcrimea.ru

Olga А. Moskalenko, Cand.Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Chair of Theory and Practice of Translation, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences and International Relations, Sevastopol State University (33 Universitetskaya St., Sevastopol 299053, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4162-3162, Researcher ID: F-2699-2016, Scopus ID: 57211746837, kerulen@bk.ru

Natalia E. Demeshko, Cand.Sci. (Polit.), Associate Professor of the Chair of Social, Philosophical and Political Sciences, Leading Researcher, Institute of Social Sciences and International Relations, Sevastopol State University (33 Universitetskaya St., Sevastopol 299053, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9620-2410, Researcher ID: ABY-8555-2022, Scopus ID: 57759845100, natalidem93@mail.ru

Vladimir V. Nemtsev, Professor of the Chair of Social, Philosophical and Political Sciences, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences and International Relations of Sevastopol State University (33 Universitetskaya St., Sevastopol 299053, Russian Federation), Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Sevastopol (3 Lenin St., Sevastopol 299011, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4909-2006, nemcev71@gmail.com

Contribution of the authors:

А. A. Irkhin – conceptualization; methodology; supervision; writing – original draft preparation.

G. L. Muradov – investigation; writing – review and editing.

O. А. Moskalenko – investigation; writing – original draft preparation; visualization.

N. E. Demeshko – investigation; writing – original draft preparation.

N. V. Nemtsev – investigation; writing – review and editing.

Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.

The authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 15.07.2025; revised 09.12.2025; accepted 24.12.2025.