Uzbekistan and the USA: evolution of bilateral relations and trajectories of further rapprochement

At the present stage, relations between Uzbekistan and the United States of America have received a new impetus. They went beyond formal diplomacy and moved towards deeper multifaceted interaction. Today, political dialogue is actively developing, economic and business ties are expanding, as well as humanitarian and people-to-people contacts are strengthening.

Until 2017, Uzbek-American cooperation was focused primarily on issues of regional security and the situation in Afghanistan; accordingly, there was practically no noticeable progress in the economy and investments. However, after the election of Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his visit to Washington in 2018, cooperation began to take on a strategic character. It should be noted that this was the first visit of an Uzbek leader to the United States in the last 16 years and marked a new level of trust. During negotiations with President Donald Trump, agreements and memorandums were signed on the implementation of projects with the participation of large American companies worth more than $4.8 billion.

Positive trends in relations were primarily associated with the transformation of the domestic policy of Uzbekistan and the pragmatic regional foreign policy of Tashkent. As a result, the density of diplomatic contacts has noticeably increased: dialogue between foreign policy agencies has become regular, which has contributed to the formation of systemic interaction.

Since the 2020s, relations have evolved into a multi-level structure. In 2021, the format of political consultations was transformed into the “Strategic Partnership Dialogue between Uzbekistan and the United States,” covering economics, security and ecology. Its first meeting took place in Tashkent, laying the foundation for comprehensive cooperation.

In 2024, bilateral relations will reach a qualitatively new level, officially establishing an expanded strategic partnership. It is based on the consistency of key priorities: Uzbekistan strives for deep economic modernization, attracting foreign investment, integration into world markets and the formation of a competitive economy. The United States supports these efforts, reaffirming its commitment to the reform process and encouraging the participation of American businesses in the new opportunities opening up in Uzbekistan.

In this context, the meeting between Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Donald Trump in September of this year on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly outlined specific priorities for long-term cooperation. During the meeting, more than ten agreements were signed with such large companies as Boeing, Cargill, Citigroup and others.

A month later, in October, an American delegation led by the US Presidential Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gore and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau visited Tashkent. The visit was another important step towards strengthening mutual trust and confirmed the readiness of both sides to practically promote joint initiatives in key areas of the bilateral agenda.

Of course, the US contribution to the economy of Uzbekistan maintains stable dynamics: trade turnover in 2024 increased by 15%, reaching $881.7 million. The portfolio of investment projects exceeds $11 billion. These indicators demonstrate the consistent expansion of trade and economic cooperation, although the volumes still remain relatively modest.

At the same time, the modern economic agenda of the two countries goes beyond traditional trade. Joint industrial and investment projects, cooperation in the field of logistics, civil aviation, agro-industrial complex and metallurgy, as well as the introduction of digital and innovative solutions in supply chain management, are moving to the fore.

Structural changes in Uzbek exports deserve special attention: 86% of the main share of exports are services. The United States continues to be the largest destination for exports of IT services from Uzbekistan: out of 800 active exporters, 448 companies supply digital services to the United States, accounting for 45% of total IT exports. This confirms the status of the United States as a key strategic partner of Uzbekistan in the field of technology.

To increase the export of Uzbek goods to the United States, the President instructed the regions of the country to establish direct ties with individual states. Thus, in August of this year, the task was set to increase textile exports to America by 5-6 times. As part of this initiative, the Textile Trading House of the Andijan Region opened a representative office in St. Louis, one of the key logistics hubs of the country.

In turn, the American company Oppenheimer plans to participate in financing three large projects in the Andijan region totaling $1.2 billion, including the creation of a textile industrial zone worth $180 million.

Meanwhile, U.S. attention has once again been drawn to Uzbekistan due to the presence in the republic of critical minerals and rare earth elements, which are actively used today in batteries, semiconductors and modern defense systems. In April 2025, the countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the production of such resources, and already in September, the American investor Cove Capital began geological exploration work.

There has also been significant progress in the humanitarian sphere: the number of academic exchanges and educational programs is increasing, and the interest of Uzbek youth in American education has noticeably increased. To date, 40 universities in Uzbekistan are implementing partnership projects with more than 25 universities and educational structures in the United States. Cooperation includes academic exchange, joint research and the involvement of American specialists in the educational process.

These initiatives reflect Uzbekistan's desire for greater openness and integration into the international community, creating conditions for expanding contacts in both the tourism and cultural fields. In this context, from January 1, 2026, Uzbekistan will introduce a visa-free regime for a period of 30 days for US citizens. Previously, this regime was only valid for tourists over 55 years of age. The new rules greatly facilitate American citizens' access to the country, stimulating business travel and cultural exchanges, as well as opening up additional opportunities for direct contacts between people and organizations in both countries.

The C5+1 regional format, uniting the United States and the five countries of Central Asia, remains the central element of multilateral cooperation. The U.S. National Security Strategy intends to intensify work within this platform to advance initiatives to combat climate change, ensure energy and food sustainability, develop transport connectivity, and expand Central Asian countries' access to global markets.

Thus, the evolution of relations between Uzbekistan and the United States demonstrates how pragmatism and a reformist approach allow barriers to be overcome for mutual benefit. Today we can confidently state that bilateral relations are complex and stable: Uzbekistan has become a significant partner, treated in Washington as an important participant in the regional architecture of stability.