Russia–Uzbekistan relations (, ) are the

bilateral relations Bilateralism is the conduct of political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which is activity by a single state or jointly by multiple states, respectively. When ...

between

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

and

Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...

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. Good relations with Uzbekistan are a key to Russian great power politics in the greater Central Asian region. On the other hand, Uzbekistan follows a "multi-vectoral policy" with good relations to Russia, China, the United States and other states. In 1999 parallel to the

Kosovo War The Kosovo War (; sr-Cyrl-Latn, Косовски рат, Kosovski rat) was an armed conflict in Kosovo that lasted from 28 February 1998 until 11 June 1999. It ...

, Uzbekistan joined the

GUAM Guam ( ; ) is an island that is an Territories of the United States, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, Guam, Hagåtña, and the most ...

alliance, which formed into an international organization in 2001. It was called GUUAM until 2005, when the country departed. In 2003, Gazprom took over control of the Uzbek pipeline network. In the same year, Uzbekistan started gas exports to the then economically recovering Russia. 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 Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov (30 January 1938 – 2 September 2016) was an Uzbek politician who served as the first president of Uzbekistan, from the country's independence in 1991 until his death in 2016. He was the last First Secretary of the ...

and

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

signed a mutual cooperation agreement in

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. 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. However, Uzbekistan remains a part of the

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian politics, political, economy, economic, international security and Defence (military), defence organization of ten member states. It was established in 2001 by the China, People's Republic ...

, of which both Russia and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

are part. After the annexation of Crimea by Russia, separatist movements in the Northern Uzbekistani region of

Karakalpakstan Karakalpakstan, officially the Republic of Karakalpakstan, is an autonomous republic and part of Uzbekistan. It spans the northwestern portion of Uzbekistan. Its capital is Nukus (' / ). Karakalpakstan has an area of , and has a population of a ...

grew stronger. Many

Karakalpaks The Karakalpaks or Qaraqalpaqs (; ), are a Kipchak languages, Kipchak-Nogai Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group native to Karakalpakstan in Northwestern Uzbekistan. During the 18th century, they settled in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya a ...

live in

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...

and

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

for work and the minority is considered to be pro-Russian. In 2014, Russia forgave nearly all of the Uzbek debt to Russia in order to boost the relations between the two countries.Paolo Sorbello: ''Yes, Uzbekistan Is Putin’s Friend''
The Diplomat 15 December 2014. Uzbekistan has an embassy in

and Russia has an embassy in

Tashkent Tashkent (), also known as Toshkent, is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uzbekistan, largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of more than 3 million people as of April 1, 2024. I ...

Resident diplomatic missions

* Russia has an embassy in

. * Uzbekistan has an embassy in

References

External links

Documents on the Russia–Uzbekistan relationship at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Documents on the Russia–Uzbekistan relationship at the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Diplomatic missions

Embassy of Russia in Tashkent

Embassy of Uzbekistan in Moscow
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russia-Uzbekistan relations

Bilateral relations of Uzbekistan

Overview

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

External links

Diplomatic missions