Dr. Fabio Indeo
External Research Fellow at the University of Siena; Senior Analyst on Central Asia, NATO Defence College Foundation
Fabio Indeo holds a Ph.D in Geopolitics. Currently he is external research fellow at the Department of Political Science of the University of Siena (Italy). Moreover, he is also senior analyst on Central Asia Desk at the NATO Defence College Foundation, then geopolitical analyst for the Institute for Asia (ISIA) and for The Hague Research Institute and for the Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. Since February 2026 Indeo is Academic Member at European Neighbourhood Council think-tank.
Since 2021, he contributes as analyst for International Policy Observatory-Energy Security Focus, realized for ISPI-Italian House of Representatives.
In 2016-2020 Indeo was board member of the Italian Association for Caucasus and Central Asian Studies, and he was a co-founder of the Italian Observatory for Central Asia and Caspian.
His research field is Geopolitics, Connectivity and Energy Security in Central Asia and Caspian region. Currently Indeo is working on the Central Asian connectivity architecture and the 1+5 format of cooperation, mainly under the Italian perspective.
He published several articles and books' chapters, cooperating with national and international think tanks and universities (Ispi, Osce Academy, Irad, Eucam, Rabdan Academy, TRENDS Advisory and Research).
Qualification
PhD in Geopolitics
Research Interests
- Geopolitics of Central Asia: the external influences of Russia, European Union, United States and China; connectivity architecture; Afghanistan and regional security; geopolitics of pipelines
- Energy Security: analysis of national and international energy scenario; energy security and diversification strategy; geopolitics of pipelines and energy transport routes; critical minerals and rare earth as new drivers of a geopolitical competition
Publications
Book chapters, working papers and policy briefs (most recents and relevants)
2025 Navigating geopolitical realities: the EU’s strategy in Central Asia and its implications for energy, renewables and critical raw materials, in M. Neuman, R.A. Wessel, T. de Zee (eds.), “A geopolitical Europe in the making?”, Asser Press, (coauthor with Professor Agha Bayramov, University of Groninga, The Netherlands)
2025 The vulnerability of the EU reshaped energy security: the unsolved knot of the imports’ dependence, in J. Fedin,“External Partners in the EU energy Transition: New Dependencies or Similar Challenges?”, Natolin Nest Series vol.3, College of Europe, Warsaw (Poland)
2025 Geopolitical implications of the GCC-Central Asia partnership, RSDI Insights, Rabdan Security and Defence Institute, July 9, 2025, https://rsdi.ae/en/publications/the-complexities-of-the-eu-gulf-energy-relations-divergent-energy-strategy-pathways (coauthor with Professor Farkhod Aminjonov)
2025 The complexity of the EU-Gulf energy relations divergent energy strategy pathways, RSDI Insights, Rabdan Security and Defence Institute, July 9, 2025, https://rsdi.ae/en/publications/the-complexities-of-the-eu-gulf-energy-relations-divergent-energy-strategy-pathways (coauthor with Professor Farkhod Aminjonov)
2024 Geopolitical constraints in the EU’s revised strategy towards Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, in A. Bayramov, M. Neuman (eds.), “EU Governance in Central Asia. A sectoral approach”, Routledge, 2024 (coauthor with Professor Agha Bayramov, University of Groninga, The Netherlands)
2024 Central Asia. Cooperation in hydrocarbons, in J. Lemps, S. Mayer (eds.), “Central Asia in a multipolar world”, Springer
2023 The Growing Role of East Asia for the Middle East: Geopolitical Implications of a Strategic Cooperation, in R. Kowner, Y. Evron and P.R. Kumaraswamy (eds.), “East-West relations in the 21 st Century”, Routledge: London
2021 European critical infrastructures: vulnerabilities and securitisation strategies, in M. Brunelli (ed)., “Understanding radicalization, terrorism and deradicalization”, Rubbettino editore
2021 Energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions in NATO and PfP countries’ military operations, Energy Highlights, Final Report of the Study, NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, Vilnius (coauthor with Ana Gogoreliani and Teimuraz Puluzashvili)
2021 Middle East and East Asia energy relations: geopolitical and strategic cooperation, NATO Defense College Foundation Papers, May 2021, https://www.natofoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/NDCF-Paper-Indeo-ME-and-East-Asia-energy-relations-100521.pdf
2021 The Middle East in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Strategic and geopolitical implications, MEI Insight 256, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore, March 16, https://mei.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Insight-256-Fabio-Indeo.pdf
2019 New Trends in Central Asia Connectivity, in C. Frappi, F. Indeo (eds.), “Monitoring Central Asia and Caspian area”, Ca Foscari Edition, Venice
2018 The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Central Asia: building new relations in a reshaped geopolitical scenario, in W. Zhang, I. Alon, C. Lattemann (eds.), "China's One Belt and One Road Initiative: the Changing Rule of Globalization", Palgrave Macmillan
Articles (in English, selection)
2026 Reshaping the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor: new challenges, old vulnerabilities, in “Trends Research & Advisory”, February 15, 2026, 19, 2025, https://trendsresearch.org/insight/reshaping-the-india-middle-east-europe-economic-corridor-new-challenges-old-vulnerabilities/
2025 Italy bets on the Middle Corridor: a new role in Eurasian trade?, in “The Hague Research Institute for Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia”, December 11, 2025, https://hagueresearch.org/italy-bets-on-the-middle-corridor-a-new-role-in-eurasian-trade/
2025 EU-Central Asia Cooperation on Critical Minerals within a Global Geopolitical Race, in “Trends Research & Advisory”, October 19, 2025, https://trendsresearch.org/insight/eu-central-asia-cooperation-on-critical-minerals-within-a-global-geopolitical-race/
2025 Forging cooperation: Italy and UAE in a new global economic landscape, in “Trends Research & Advisory”, July 15, 2025, https://trendsresearch.org/insight/forging-cooperation-italy-and-the-uae-in-a-new-global-economic-landscape/
2024 The Localisation of Italian Multilateralism: the Italy-Central Asia 5+1 Format in a Comparative Analysis with China and the United States, in “Studies on Central Asia and Caucasus”, vol.1, 2024, Firenze University Press (coauthor with Frank Maracchione, University of Sheffield, UK)
2024 Italy and Central Asia 1+5: development and perspectives, in “Food for Thoughts”, Nato Defense College Foundation, July 18, 2024, https://www.natofoundation.org/food/italy-and-central-asia-15-development-and-perspectives/
2018 Settling the Caspian Issue and Realizing the South Caspian Energy Corridor, in “The Diplomat”, July 10, 2018, https://thediplomat.com/2018/07/settling-the-caspian-issue-and-realizing-the-trans-caspian-energy-corridor/