After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the region of Central Asia, which had economic potential and geographical advantages, became vulnerable in terms of security. As a result, it was constantly subjected to external influences. In the early...
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the region of Central Asia, which had economic potential and geographical advantages, became vulnerable in terms of security. As a result, it was constantly subjected to external influences. In the early 2000s, it was influenced by the United States, but in 2013, China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ project was introduced and the region began to be influenced by China.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact on Uzbekistan's economic and security policy starting in 2013, when China's ‘One Belt One Road’ policy was announced. The impact of the ‘One Belt One Road’ policy on Uzbekistan's economy and security and the resulting change in Uzbekistan-China relations on Uzbekistan-Russia, Uzbekistan-USA relations were also examined. As China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ policy began in earnest
after 2013, other Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, began to pay a lot of attention to this Chinese policy. Central Asian countries that are geographically and economically close to China play a very important role in the success of the ‘One Belt One Road’ policy, and it is no exaggeration to say that Uzbekistan, located in the center of Central Asia, plays a decisive role for a successful outcome of ‘One Belt One Road’ policy in Central Asia region. In this paper, various data, such as surveys with one of the major participating countries as Kazakhstan, were cited and analyzed on the external economic and security benefits that Uzbekistan will gain from the ‘One Belt One Road’ project with China and areas to be aware of.
Uzbekistan needs to carefully design its foreign policy at a time when competition between major powers is getting fiercer. While actively promoting economic cooperation with China and Russia and maintaining friendly cooperative relations in terms of security, it is necessary to establish foreign policy from various perspectives because some distance is necessary in the political part. Uzbekistan, with its geographical characteristics and economic potential, is emerging as a country that plays a greater role in the international community in the 21st century. Therefore, Uzbekistan should carefully design its foreign security cooperation and economic policies.