<p>Kazakhstan has a foreign policy of multivectorism. Small powers have to carefully choose foreign policy to capitalize on economic and security opportunities without compromising their chances of survival. We use concepts from role theory and build on research by Thies and Wehner (Journal of Global Security Studies 6: ogaa055, 2021) that identified two roles that small powers can play—that of faithful ally or of active independent—to show how the new role of a multivector state enables small powers to combine elements from both of these roles to enhance flexibility of foreign policy action and thereby maximizes both security and economic development potential. We apply role theory to explain how Kazakhstan’s multivector foreign policy has given it room to act safely and how that role has been accepted by Russia and other states in the international system. We briefly show differences in the approach taken by Kazakhstan and those taken by Ukraine and Belarus.</p>