[Objective] The spatiotemporal evolution patterns and driving mechanisms of natural capital utilization in countries participating in the Silk Road Initiative were analyzed in order to provide scientific support for regional sustainable development. [Methods] Based on an improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model， this research integrates spatial autocorrelation analysis and Tobit regression to construct a multidimensional evaluation framework of ‘spatiotemporal evolution-spatial correlation-driving mechanisms’. [Results] ① The per capita ecological footprint breadth showed a gradient differentiation pattern， with Singapore consistently having the lowest， while Mongolia and Latvia having the highest values. ② The ecological footprint depth exhibited significant polarization， with Singapore maintaining an extremely high level over the long term， while countries such as Russia at the baseline value. ③ The three-dimensional ecological footprint displayed a differential pattern of ‘high in developed countries and low in developing countries’. However， owing to energy efficiency optimization， China’s growth rate had slowed， providing a transformation paradigm for developing countries. ④ The spatial correlation demonstrated dynamic strengthening characteristics， with Moran’s I index increasing from 0.142 to 0.298. Regions such as Russia showed ‘high-high aggregation’， while South Asian countries were primarily characterized by ‘low-low aggregation’. China’s spatial correlation had shifted from ‘low-high’ to ‘insignificant’. ⑤ Urbanization rate， trade openness， renewable energy share， and ecological carrying capacity had considerable positive driving effects on the three-dimensional footprint， whereas net primary productivity and foreign direct investment exhibit inhibitory effects. [Conclusion] The utilization of natural capital in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative shows significant spatial heterogeneity and path dependence. Differentiated governance strategies， such as coordinating the ecological boundaries of urbanization， optimizing the allocation of ecological costs in trade， and overcoming technological lock-ins in renewable energy are required to promote the sustainable use of natural capital.