Russia–Uzbekistan relations

Russia–Uzbekistan relations (Russian: Российско-узбекские отношения, Uzbek: Ўзбекистон-Россия муносабатлари) are the bilateral relations between Russia and Uzbekistan.

Russia–Uzbekistan relations
Map indicating locations of Russia and Uzbekistan

Russia
Uzbekistan
Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2004

Overview

Uzbekistan was a Soviet socialist republic from 1924 until 1991. Both countries have had diplomatic relations since 1992. In the first years of independence, Uzbekistan remained within the rouble-zone until November 1993. The country has since moved politically away from the Russian Federation.[1]

Good relations with Uzbekistan are a key to Russian great power politics in the greater Central Asian region.[2] On the other hand, Uzbekistan follows a "multi-vectoral policy" with good relations to Russia, China, the United States and other states.[3][4]

In 1999 parallel to the Kosovo War, Uzbekistan joined the GUAM alliance, which formed into an international organization in 2001. It was called GUUAM until 2005, when the country departed.[5]

In 2003, Gazprom took over control of the Uzbek pipeline network.[6] In the same year, Uzbekistan started gas exports to the then economically recovering Russia.[7]

In the aftermath of the May 2005 unrest, Uzbekistan demanded that the United States leave the base at Karshi-Khanabad. Additionally, Uzbekistan left GUUAM, which again became GUAM. On 14 November 2005, both presidents Islam Karimov and Vladimir Putin signed a mutual cooperation agreement in Moscow.[8][9]

In 2012, Uzbekistan opted to formally withdraw from the Russian-led CSTO alliance, leading some to debate whether such a move indicated a shift in its foreign policy to the West.[10] However, Uzbekistan remains a part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, of which both Russia and China are part.

After the annexation of Crimea by Russia, separatist movements in the Northern Uzbekistani region of Karakalpakstan grew stronger. Many Karakalpaks live in Kazakhstan, Russia and South Korea for work and the minority is considered to be pro-Russian.[11][12][13]

In 2014, Russia forgave nearly all of the Uzbek debt to Russia in order to boost the relations between the two countries.[14]

Uzbekistan has an embassy in Moscow and Russia has an embassy in Tashkent.

See also

References
  1. Martin C. Spechler: Economic Reform in Authoritarian Uzbekistan, in: Michael Gervers/Uradyn E. Bulag/Gillian Long (ed.): Traders and Trade Routes of Central and Inner Asia: The 'Silk Road,' Then and Now, Toronto 2007, pp. 235-251 (here: p. 239).
  2. Andrew Monaghan: Uzbekistan - Central Asian key, in: Adrian Dellecker/Thomas Gomart (ed.): Russian Energy Security and Foreign Policy, London/New York 2011, pp. 121–131 (here: p. 121).
  3. Dina Rome Spechler/Martin C. Spechler: The foreign policy of Uzbekistan: sources, objectives and outcomes: 1991–2009, in: Central Asian Survey, Vol. 29, No. 2 (2010), pp. 159–170.
  4. Aleksandr Pikalov: Uzbekistan between the great powers: a balancing act or a multi-vectorial approach?, in: Central Asian Survey, Vol. 33, No. 3 (2014), pp. 297–311.
  5. Kees van der Pijl: Global Rivalries – From the Cold War to Iraq, London 2006, p. 281.
  6. Monaghan: Uzbekistan - Central Asian key, p. 127.
  7. Spechler: Economic Reform in Authoritarian Uzbekistan, p. 248.
  8. Pikalov: Uzbekistan between the great powers, pp. 297–311.
  9. Sergei Blagov: Uzbekistan and Russia Sign Mutual Defense Pact, EurasiaNet 14 November 2005.
  10. James Kilner: Uzbekistan withdraws from Russia-lead military alliance, telegraph.co.uk 2 July 2012.
  11. Paul Goble: Moscow Set to Use Karakalpak Separatism Against a Pro-Western Tashkent, Jamestown Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor, Volume: 11, Issue: 148, 12 August 2014.
  12. Igor Rotar: Are There Possible Future ‘Crimeas’ in Central Asia?, Jamestown Foundation Eurasia Daily Monitor, Volume: 11, Issue: 107, 13 June 2014.
  13. Omirbek: "Uzbekistan separatist movement threatens ancient culture", The Guardian 5 February 2015.
  14. Paolo Sorbello: Yes, Uzbekistan Is Putin’s Friend, The Diplomat 15 December 2014.
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