Central Asia, thanks to its rich natural resources, strategic location, economic, transport and logistical capabilities, has always been in the center of attention of global and regional powers.
After achieving independence, due to mutual claims on borders, water resources and other issues, neighboring states were in very difficult and tense relations with each other. Sometimes it came to blocking roads, border skirmishes and mining borders, which gave foreign experts a reason for dire predictions about the possible “Balkanization” or “Afghanization” of the situation in Central Asia.
A qualitatively new period in the region’s modern history began with the coming to power in Uzbekistan of Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2016, who, as noted by the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan on Foreign Policy Abdulaziz Kamilov, “formulated a new comprehensive Doctrine of Foreign Policy… The goal of achieving ‘zero problems with neighbors’ was put at the forefront. The conceptual basis of regional policy became the principles of the inadmissibility of strengthening one’s own security at the expense of the security of other states, openness, pragmatism and constructivism, proactive dialogue based on equality, mutual respect and consideration of interests.”
In this context, it was deeply symbolic that Sh. Mirziyoyev made his first foreign visits after his election to neighboring countries — March 6, 2017 to Turkmenistan, March 23, 2017 to Kazakhstan, September 5, 2017 to Kyrgyzstan, and March 9, 2018 to Tajikistan.
By mutual agreement with neighbors, border checkpoints were resumed, the visa regime with Tajikistan was abolished, and some previously interrupted rail, air, and land transport links were restarted.
In addition, on September 19, 2017 the President spoke at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, stating that “being in the very heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is interested in the region becoming a zone of stability, sustainable development, and good neighborliness. A peaceful, economically prosperous Central Asia is our most important goal and key task.”
In his speech, the head of Uzbekistan also put forward the initiative to hold Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia.
In the name of this goal, he also initiated various mechanisms of bilateral and regional interaction, which launched new trends of rapprochement and consolidation within Central Asia.
Based on the importance of the tasks of ensuring regional security and sustainable development, the President in his speech proposed holding an international high-level conference on Central Asia under the auspices of the UN, which was held on November 11-12, 2017 in Samarkand.
Later, following the conference, a special resolution of the UN General Assembly entitled “Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region” was adopted.
This document for the first time at the international level consolidated the format of the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia, supporting the initiative in the context of ensuring regional security in Central Asia.
The consistency of Uzbekistan’s policy in this area was also reflected in the speeches of Sh. Mirziyoyev at the 75th and 78th sessions of the UN General Assembly, confirming that the priority goal of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy will remain the movement of Central Asia along the path of consolidation and progress.
In addition, in his speeches at the global and regional and other international venues, the President of Uzbekistan regularly put forward initiatives aimed at ensuring regional security, as well as turning Central Asia into a zone of stability, sustainable development and good neighborliness.
In general, it can be noted that over the past seven years, the internal geopolitical landscape of Central Asia has been reformatted, in which the prevailing trends have become towards increasing mutual trust, strengthening regional stability and security.
Through the joint efforts of all Central Asian countries, unprecedented progress has been achieved in resolving such sensitive issues as borders, water and energy, as well as overcoming disagreements of past years with neighbors, who now undoubtedly view Tashkent as their closest and most reliable partner.
On this basis, the long-awaited integration process in Central Asia was launched, and the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia mechanism has become an effective high-level negotiating platform for open discussion and removal of accumulated acute problems of regional cooperation.
In this regard, experts from the European analytical center Special Eurasia S. Boltuk and J. Bifolki note that “a stable Uzbekistan, characterized by strong governance and capable local leadership, has the potential to contribute to regional stability in Central Asia – a region that faces various local challenges.”
Having a strategically important location in the center of the region and sharing a common border with all neighboring states, including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan continues to pursue an open, mutually beneficial and constructive foreign policy, taking into account large-scale internal transformations in the country, as well as the dynamically changing situation in the world and the region.
At the same time, the country also demonstrates a commitment to the course of non-alignment with military-political blocs, not allowing the deployment of foreign military bases and facilities on its territory, as well as the participation of the country’s military personnel in peacekeeping operations or military conflicts abroad.
However, at this stage, fundamental political and economic changes taking place in the world pose new challenges and tasks for the countries of Central Asia. In this regard, on the sidelines of the VI Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, which took place on August 8-9 this year in Astana, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev once again emphasized the need for new collective decisions and joint actions of the countries of the region.
Thus, Uzbekistan advocates close cooperation in promising areas that meet the interests of all countries in the region, including the sphere of regional security. In this regard, the intensification of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia will contribute to solving the problems of effectively confronting regional and global challenges.
Turdikul Butayarov,
head of Department of IICA