Moscow: Uzbekistan rejects Western pressure, deepens ties with Russia

Uzbekistan has refused to bow to Western pressure and is instead expanding its cooperation with Russia, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.

Speaking to TASS on the sidelines of a Russia–Uzbekistan conference organised by the Valdai Club and the Institute for Strategic and Inter-regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, Galuzin said Tashkent had taken a “balanced, mature and wise” position by declining to join anti-Russian sanctions.

“We highly value that our partners understand the enduring importance of large-scale Russia–Uzbekistan cooperation, which brings substantial benefits to both sides,” he said.

“Rather than harming themselves by joining sanctions, they are clearly choosing development through cooperation with Russia as a key trade and investment partner,” Galuzin added.

He pointed to a series of major joint projects as evidence of strengthening ties, including the construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant, expansion works at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, and the supply of Russian rolling stock for the country’s railways and metro system.

According to the diplomat, around 115 joint projects worth approximately 3.2 trillion rubles ($39 billion) are currently underway. Bilateral trade has reached $11.5 billion, while Russian investments in Uzbekistan’s economy total about $13 billion.

He also dismissed any suggestion of pressure in Moscow’s relations with Tashkent.

“Russia does not even envisage any form of coercion or sanctions in its relations with Uzbekistan. There has never been, is not, and will not be any such approach,” Galuzin said, contrasting this with what he described as continued Western pressure on countries in the region.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov