Washington, 29 August 2024 (TDI): Daniel Runde, a senior vice-president at the Washington D.C.-based think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies, has urged US politicians to strengthen ties with Uzbekistan.
He believes that Uzbekistan, a key partner for the US in Central Asia, deserves more attention from the West. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing competition with China, the United States could strengthen relations with Uzbekistan to promote regional stability and counterbalance Russian and Chinese influence.
Uzbekistan seeks more engagement with the US through bilateral efforts and the “C5+1” (the 5 Central Asian nations plus the United States) diplomatic platform. We might never become Uzbekistan’s best friend. However, we could become more reliable and better friends. Uzbekistan has five bordering countries, and at one point in the early 2000s, it considered the US its ‘sixth neighbor,’ Runde mentioned.
He added that when the US government was active in Afghanistan, we supported Uzbekistan’s efforts to develop its economy and invest in its security. With our disengagement from Kabul, we need to look at Uzbekistan as the valued partner that it could be and re-engage. We should work towards the day that Uzbekistan considers the US its ‘6th neighbor’ again.
According to Runde, there are several goals that the United States could assist Uzbekistan in achieving. While some are significantly more difficult to handle, others are relatively straightforward.
He said that Uzbekistan wants US support to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), a goal it has pursued for almost thirty years. The US has provided some technical assistance, and during a recent visit, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai reaffirmed America’s support.
For further progress, Uzbekistan could benefit from greater involvement from US institutions like the Development Finance Corporation, Export-Import Bank, and US Trade and Development Agency to strengthen trade ties with the US, he added.
