Crossroads Asia

Can Trump Bring Balance to US-Uzbekistan Relations?

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Crossroads Asia

Can Trump Bring Balance to US-Uzbekistan Relations?

As Tashkent and Washington revive their strategic partnership, eyes are on reforms.

Can Trump Bring Balance to US-Uzbekistan Relations?
Credit: Facebook

After delivering brief remarks following a working lunch with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is the first Uzbek president to visit the White House since Islam Karimov in 2002, U.S. President Donald Trump responded to shouted questions about North Korea.

And therein lies the unfortunate reality of U.S.-Uzbekistan relations: they will likely always take a backseat to more pressing concerns in Washington and as such, American policy toward Uzbekistan may continue to lack the nuance the relationship deserves. That said, there’s an opportunity to rebalance U.S. relations with Uzbekistan, which have been relatively dysfunctional for some time.

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