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Bilateral Relations

Uzbekistan and United States Leaders Discuss Expanding Strategic Partnership

According to the office of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Uzbek and U.S. presidents held a telephone conversation on Friday, focusing on ways to deepen their countries’ strategic partnership across economic, security, and cultural fields. The details of the call were provided by the Uzbek president’s office. Strengthening Economic Ties The presidential office reported that both leaders emphasized opportunities to expand trade and investment. Bilateral trade grew by 15% in 2024, and the two sides signaled interest in building on that momentum. Prospective projects span civil aviation, mineral resources, energy, agriculture, digital technologies, finance, and education. Later this month, meetings are expected between Uzbek representatives and leading U.S. companies to explore long-term cooperation. Security and Regional Cooperation According to the statement, security issues also featured prominently in the conversation. The two presidents noted ongoing joint work against terrorism, extremism, and illegal migration. They also exchanged views on regional cooperation in Central Asia, highlighting the role of the “C5+1” dialogue format that brings together the United States and five Central Asian countries. Cultural and Humanitarian Exchanges The Uzbek president’s office noted that the discussion touched on expanding cultural and educational links. Branches of U.S. universities are operating in Tashkent, providing new opportunities for academic exchange. Looking ahead, the leaders noted with satisfaction that Uzbekistan’s national football team will participate for the first time in the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will be the main host of. A Growing Partnership Since Mirziyoyev assumed the presidency in 2016, Uzbekistan has pursued a more open foreign policy and a program of internal reforms aimed at modernizing the economy and improving governance. These changes have created new opportunities for cooperation with Washington. The United States, for its part, has supported regional initiatives through the C5+1 framework, while also seeking closer ties with Tashkent in areas such as counterterrorism, economic development, and education. American universities and companies have increased their presence in Uzbekistan, and cultural exchanges have expanded steadily in recent years. Next Steps The president’s office stated that President Mirziyoyev invited President Trump to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan. Both leaders agreed to maintain high-level contacts and continue advancing joint projects and programs. According to the Uzbek president’s office, the conversation was held in a constructive and friendly atmosphere, underscoring a shared interest in further strengthening Uzbek-American relations.

Trans-Afghan Railway

Trans-Afghan Railway: Can Uzbekistan Build a Railway Through Afghanistan to Reach the Sea?

For years, Uzbekistan has planned to gain access to the sea by passing through Afghanistan: The Trans-Afghan Railway is one of the country’s top transport projects. The railway could not only bring Uzbekistan to the sea, but also turn it into a transit hub connecting the north and south. However, no matter how promising the project looks, existing obstacles leave its fate uncertain. The Taliban has not yet established full control over Afghan territories, and many of its state assets are frozen. This leaves the construction costs to Uzbekistan and Pakistan. The Taliban government’s lack of recognition may also complicate attracting international institutions and companies to the project, even after its completion. So how realistic is Uzbekistan’s new Trans-Afghan railway project? Why Is the Railway Needed? Proposed by Uzbekistan in December 2018 for the first time, the Trans-Afghan railway project aims to extend Afghanistan’s rail network from Mazar-i-Sharif through Kabul and Logar, before crossing into Pakistan via Kharlachi - replacing the earlier plan to run through Nangarhar Province. The railway would cross the Torkham border and pass through Peshawar into Pakistan. Once in Pakistan, cargo would be linked to the Pakistani railway system, reaching the country’s seaports of Karachi, Gwadar, and Qasim. However, in July 2023, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan finalized a different route: Termez → Naibabad → Maidanshahr → Logar → Kharlachi. This means the corridor will not pass through the Torkham border as originally described. Now construction scheduled to start within five months, the railway is expected to handle up to 20 million tons of cargo annually and reduce transit time from Uzbekistan to Pakistan from 35 days to 3–5 days once operational. Financial Obstacles The line is planned to be 647 km long, with an estimated construction cost of $6.9 billion according to more recent Uzbek statements (though earlier estimates ranged from $4.6 to $7 billion). This figure remains subject to change until the final feasibility study is complete. Given Afghanistan’s complex ecological terrain, estimated costs could rise significantly. Pakistan has stated it would raise funds for the construction and financing of the part of the line to be built on Afghan territory. Observers believe the first issue to resolve before construction starts is the provision of security by the Taliban. Independent political analyst Yunus Sharifli argues that statements made by ISIS and threats targeting countries cooperating with the Taliban are further delaying construction. “At present, the deterioration of Afghanistan’s security situation makes it even harder to secure credit lines with financial institutions. The Taliban continues to struggle to establish legitimacy in Afghanistan. Yet the country as a whole remains bogged down in ethnic conflicts,” Sharifli stated. The Taliban’s policies toward women are also seen as one of the reasons complicating access to international financing mechanisms. Multilateral financial institutions and donor states condition their support on certain governance principles. This has become one of the main challenges in securing financing and attracting Western investors. Geographic Obstacles Part of the line is planned to cross the Salang Pass...

Aktau Plane Crash

Russia Says It Has Paid Compensation for Kazakhstan Plane Crash

Russia says insurance payments have been made for the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau in December 2024, potentially meeting a demand of Azerbaijani officials who assert the plane was hit by Russian ground fire before diverting and crashing. While Azerbaijan’s government had said Russia should pay compensation for the disaster that killed 38 of the 67 people on board, it has yet to secure other demands, including full acknowledgement of responsibility for the crash and punishment of those believed to have fired on the aircraft as it tried to land in Grozny, Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Russian insurance company AlfaStrakhovanie JSC has been making insurance payments since February in connection with the crash, which had taken off from Baku. AlfaStrakhovanie is one of the largest insurance companies in Russia and has been under Western sanctions because of the war in Ukraine. “The Azerbaijani airline was paid insurance compensation for the plane in the amount of the full insured value - 1.003 billion rubles,” the equivalent of $12.3 million, the Russian ministry said. “Claims in connection with the injuries and deaths of 46 of the 62 passengers on the flight have been fully settled, including full payments for 7 of the 15 Russian citizens, 35 of the 38 Azerbaijani citizens, all 3 Kyrgyz citizens, and 1 of the 6 Kazakh citizens,” the ministry said. “To date, insurance payments have been made to the injured passengers of the plane and relatives of the deceased for a total of 358.4 million rubles.” The payment to injured passengers and relatives of the deceased is the equivalent of $4.4 million. The Russian ministry said work was continuing with those groups for the purposes of a “full settlement.” There was no specific mention of the five Azerbaijani crew members in the Russian statement. Two pilots and one flight attendant died. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered a general apology for the crash without providing details about what happened at a time when, according to Russia, the area around Grozny was under attack from Ukrainian drones. Azerbaijan has said it will seek redress in international courts, indicating it has doubts about the outcome of a crash investigation being led by Kazakhstan. Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has sharply criticized Russia because of its alleged evasiveness over the crash, were seen shaking hands in a brief encounter at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tianjin, China earlier in the week. But they didn’t hold a meeting on the sidelines of the event, possibly indicating that there is still significant tension in the relationship between the two countries.

Education

China’s Luban Workshops in Kazakhstan: Skills-Building or Strategic Leverage?

At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, China inaugurated two new vocational centers in Kazakhstan under the Luban Workshop initiative. The move highlights the growing emphasis on technical education and skills development across the region. Kazakhstan’s first Luban Workshop was launched in 2023 at Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, creating a platform to advance engineering and technical training. The program has since expanded with a second workshop at the Gumilyov Eurasian National University in Astana and a third at the Academy of Logistics and Transport in Almaty. This China-led program aims to share China’s educational expertise and technical resources with partner countries, with a particular focus on cultivating a new generation of skilled workers in developing economies. The workshops are not only a vehicle for workforce training but also a symbol of the Belt and Road Initiative’s people-to-people exchange dimension. By encouraging social and educational connections, China is seeking to complement government-to-government cooperation with deeper societal ties. The choice of Tianjin for the ceremony is not a coincidence. The Luban Workshop concept originated in this city and has been actively promoted by the Tianjin municipal government. Equally notable is Kazakhstan’s central role in the program’s expansion. The Kazakh government has expressed consistent support for Chinese-led educational partnerships, underlining the importance of vocational training to its national development agenda. During his visit to a Luban Workshop in Kazakhstan in February 2024, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev praised the initiative, saying, “I am deeply appreciative of the contributions made by Chinese universities. They have executed exemplary work. I hope to see more workshops like this in Kazakhstan.” The expansion of China’s Luban Workshop initiative offers distinct benefits for both China and Kazakhstan. For China, the workshops help shift perceptions of its educational initiatives. Unlike the Confucius Institutes, which focus on cultural and language promotion, the Luban Workshops emphasize practical, in-demand skills in fields such as manufacturing and technology. This approach allows China to project a more pragmatic and development-oriented image, fostering goodwill in a way that is less vulnerable to geopolitical criticism. A second key benefit lies in the realm of soft power. By delivering tangible skills and opportunities, Luban Workshops can positively influence public attitudes toward China in Central Asia. In Kazakhstan, such initiatives not only support technical education but also help frame Chinese investments as beneficial for local communities. Over time, this contributes to strengthening government-to-government ties and broader people-to-people connections, enhancing China’s long-term influence in the region. For Kazakhstan, the Luban Workshops provide benefits by helping to build a pool of technically skilled human capital. This directly supports the country’s industrial goals and broader economic development agenda. A more qualified workforce also enables local citizens to participate more actively in Chinese-backed projects in Kazakhstan, thereby boosting local employment. One of the recurring criticisms of China’s overseas investment projects has been the limited transfer of knowledge and skills. In many cases, local workers are confined to low-skilled, manual roles, while Chinese nationals occupy managerial and technical positions. The Luban Workshops...

SCO Summit

Opinion: Victory Day Parade Puts China’s Military Might and Alliances on Full Display

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit coincided with China’s lavish commemorations of the "80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the broader World Anti-Fascist War." The culminating moment, a grand military parade, was followed by a formal reception hosted by President Xi Jinping for visiting foreign dignitaries. All five Central Asian heads of state attended the parade. As the summit concluded, Xi seized the opportunity to issue a pointed warning to the West, particularly the United States and President Donald Trump, who had made it clear that he was closely following events in Tianjin and Beijing. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America." Kim Jong Un’s high-profile visit to Beijing, including a prolonged meeting with Putin, signaled the emergence of a visible military alignment between North Korea and Russia. This visit served as a strategic complement to China's Victory Day display of military might. [caption id="attachment_35739" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: president.uz[/caption] For the first time, China publicly exhibited components of its strategic nuclear triad: the air-launched Jinglei1 missile, submarine-launched Julang3, and land-based ICBMs such as the Dongfeng61 and Dongfeng31 (and reportedly the DF5C). Analysts saw this as a deliberate signal to the U.S., regional powers like India and Russia, and potential international arms buyers, positioning China as a formidable strategic actor. Also on display were China’s anti-drone “triad”, missile-gun systems, high-energy lasers, and high-power microwave weapons, highlighting advances in counter-drone technology. Additionally, the parade showcased hypersonic and cruise missiles, unmanned aerial and underwater systems, and even robotic dog units, demonstrating China’s futuristic military capabilities. While noting the parade's impressive visuals, analysts cautioned that the true readiness of many showcased systems, for example, torpedo drones or laser weapons, remains uncertain. [caption id="attachment_35741" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: president.uz[/caption] Diplomatically, the summit also reinforced Sino-Russian ties. Putin, who described relations with China as “unprecedentedly” close, and Xi signed over 20 bilateral agreements, including a major energy deal, Power of Siberia 2, a gas pipeline delivering 50 billion cubic metres annually to China via Mongolia. Meanwhile, China announced a trial visa-free entry policy for ordinary Russian passport holders, effective from September 15, 2025, to September 14, 2026, allowing visits up to 30 days for tourism, business, or family purposes. Together, the military spectacle and deepening diplomatic and people-to-people ties affirm Xi’s confidence as he prepares for crucial negotiations with President Trump, an unmistakable projection of strength and strategic resolve.

SCO Summit

Mirziyoyev Bets on the SCO to Boost Uzbekistan’s Security and Economy

Tianjin, China - The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit drew wide attention as leaders from across Eurasia convened to emphasize the Organization’s growing importance. For smaller members, the meeting was a chance to show commitment to regional cooperation and alignment with the bloc’s major powers. Uzbekistan, under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, stood out by using the platform to outline his intention to strengthen engagement within the SCO to advance both economic development and security. Mirziyoyev’s speech stressed solidarity in the face of global uncertainty, institutional renewal to improve effectiveness, and deeper cooperation in areas such as security and nuclear policy. He also endorsed expanding membership, particularly from the Global South, while presenting proposals to boost trade, logistics, and investment. These priorities are consistent with Uzbekistan’s ongoing strategy of aligning its national agenda with the SCO’s broader evolution into a forum with Eurasian and global relevance. Reinforcing Multilateral Solidarity Uzbekistan’s solidarity with the SCO has been in the making for years, as Tashkent aligns parts of its security and economic strategy with the Organization’s framework. In his latest address, Mirziyoyev emphasized the role of solidarity amid rising instability: “A systemic crisis of trust, the escalation of conflicts, the weakening of multilateral institutions, and the fragmentation of the global trading system are undermining the foundations of the international architecture of security and stability. In these circumstances, mutual understanding and solidarity among the SCO member-states are not only a valuable asset, but also the key to preserving peace in our vast region.” While Russia emphasizes the SCO’s role in fostering multipolarity and China focuses on resilient supply chains, Uzbekistan is leveraging the principle of solidarity to safeguard its national interests - reducing dependence on any single power. Uzbekistan is positioning itself within the SCO to align its domestic priorities with broader SCO agendas shaped by Russia’s focus on security and China’s emphasis on economic initiatives. Expanding Membership and External Engagement Mirziyoyev underscored the SCO’s “openness,” identifying expansion as central to its continued development. He welcomed greater engagement with new members and partners, though he did not specify particular regions. Uzbekistan’s growing cooperation with countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia demonstrates how this vision of openness is taking shape in practice. Tashkent has actively supported Iran’s accession to the SCO and recently signed agreements on transport corridors that connect Central Asia to Iranian ports on the Persian Gulf, facilitating greater trade with Iran. In parallel, deepening ties with Saudi Arabia - particularly through ACWA Power’s renewable energy projects, now among Uzbekistan’s largest foreign-funded ventures - illustrate Uzbekistan’s broader engagement with the Global South in the areas of connectivity and investment. These moves parallel Russia’s and China’s efforts to expand the SCO’s influence beyond its founding region. For Uzbekistan, expansion offers new avenues for trade, energy cooperation, and investment partnerships, while reinforcing its image as a bridge-builder. By publicly supporting this process, Mirziyoyev signaled that Uzbekistan expects wider membership to enhance both the Organization’s and its own standing. Institutional Alignment with the SCO A...