Uzbekistan-Jordan: towards new horizons of cooperation

On August 25-26, at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, King Abdullah of Jordan will pay a state visit to Uzbekistan IIibn al-Hussein.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan were established in February 1993. Over the past decades, they have gone from formal contacts to complex interaction covering politics, economics and the cultural and humanitarian sphere.

In June 1994, the Jordanian Embassy began its activities in Tashkent. Currently, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan with a residence in Riyadh is accredited in Amman on a part-time basis.

In addition, since August 2007, the institution of the Honorary Consul of Uzbekistan in Jordan has been operating, who is a citizen of the kingdom Luay Abu Ghazzala.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Between Uzbekistan and Jordan, the political dialogue at the highest level was conducted mainly in the format of meetings at international platforms, telephone conversations, messages and individual exchanges of high-level visits.

In recent years, bilateral ties have acquired new dynamics. The parties demonstrate a desire to expand and deepen cooperation, relying on significant potential for mutual benefit.

In 2025, a representative delegation of Uzbekistan led by Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov visited Amman, during which welcoming words and a personal message from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev were conveyed to King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein. The delegation was received by the King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein, negotiations were held with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman al-Safadi, as well as meetings with representatives of the ministries of investment, higher education, awqaf, Islamic affairs and holy places, and representatives of large companies.

One ​​of the significant results was the signing of an agreement to abolish the visa regime for holders of diplomatic passports, as well as the Joint Cooperation Program between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs for 2025-2027. These steps indicate a mutual desire to give relations a systematic character and take them to a new level.

Uzbekistan as a whole demonstrates a course towards openness and multi-vector foreign policy. In recent years, Tashkent has been actively developing interaction with Middle Eastern countries, which is reflected, in particular, in the growth of trade with the states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf by almost five times in 2020-2023. Uzbekistan’s participation in multilateral formats, such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and other international associations, creates an additional platform for deepening Uzbek-Jordanian interaction.

Economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Jordan still remains at a relatively modest level, but the parties have already outlined a strategy to intensify it. In 2024, mutual trade turnover amounted to about 4.6 million US dollars. Jordan supplies Uzbekistan with pharmaceutical products, chemicals, equipment and machinery, while Uzbekistan exports copper, dried fruits, nuts and textiles.

Negotiations between the ministers of investment, industry and trade of the two countries in 2025 confirmed their readiness to expand the partnership. Among the key areas is the signing of a preferential trade agreement that will simplify access of goods to the markets of both countries, the development of cooperation in the mining industry, including the extraction and processing of phosphates, copper and other minerals, strengthening ties in agriculture and the food industry, and the implementation of joint projects in pharmaceuticals, textiles, light industry and the digital economy.

Of particular importance is the intention to create an Uzbek-Jordanian Business Council, which will allow establishing direct contacts between entrepreneurs, organizing industry exhibitions, business forums and trade missions. Jordan also proposes to use its advantageous geographical location as a hub for the entry of Uzbek goods into the markets of the Middle East and North Africa.

Ties between Uzbekistan and Jordan have a deep spiritual basis. Both states are united by Islamic culture, a common historical heritage and centuries-old traditions of religious and cultural exchange. This creates a special atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding, which is especially important for the humanitarian dimension of bilateral relations.

Promising areas of cultural and humanitarian cooperation are the expansion of academic exchanges, joint educational programs and scholarships for students, holding cultural festivals, exhibitions and conferences dedicated to the common historical and cultural heritage, cooperation in the field of Islamic studies, theology, history and archaeology, exchange of experience in the field of healthcare, including joint medical programs, training and telemedicine.

The closeness of spiritual values creates a solid basis for long-term partnerships, where cultural exchange becomes an integral part of overall development.

Representatives of Jordan have been actively participating in cultural events held in Uzbekistan in recent years, including the International Art Festival Maqoma" (September, 2018, Shakhrisabz) and the "International Festival of Excellence" (September 2019, Kokand).

Of course, Uzbekistan and Jordan are capable of building a mutually beneficial partnership based on trust, common cultural values ​​and complementary economic potential. The implementation of the planned initiatives will not only deepen cooperation, but also turn it into a significant factor of stability and development in the Middle East and Central Asia.

In this context, the upcoming visit of the head of Jordan to Uzbekistan will open new horizons for intensifying bilateral cooperation. The political will of the parties, supported by specific agreements, will create conditions for the growth of trade, the implementation of investment projects and the strengthening of humanitarian ties.

IA Dunyo