US ambassador speaks about Uzbekistan’s foreign policy

The improvement of relations between Uzbekistan and the USA is beneficial for the citizens of the two countries and the region as a whole. US Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick said this in an interview for the Alter Ego project. The Ambassador also touched on the struggle of foreign powers for Central Asia and the region’s relations with Russia.

“It would be too simple to describe Central Asia as a field of struggle only for the influence of others. Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan, have been independent for more than 30 years. These are countries with governments that make independent decisions.

It is surprising to observe that the government of Uzbekistan conducts foreign policy with the interests of its people in mind. That is, a foreign policy that does not depend on any country and tries to be good with all its neighbors. The same foreign policy, which seems to have positive and beneficial relations with Russia, China, the EU and the USA. If I were the president, I would have chosen a similar direction in foreign policy.

I am opposed to the fact that strengthening US-Uzbekistan relations and increasing US influence should come at a price. In fact, the improvement of our bilateral relations is for the benefit of the Uzbek people, American citizens and the region as a whole,” the Ambassador said.

Jonathan Henick also responded to the words of Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the Russian State Duma, who came to Tashkent in November 2022 and warned Uzbekistan of the consequences of cooperation with the United States.

“I think Mr. Volodin promoted his interests. He does not proceed from the interests of Uzbekistan, but from the interests of himself and his colleagues in Moscow. Russia has close ties with Central Asia for historical reasons. The US is not dissatisfied with this, but Russia sees that Uzbekistan has stronger and more balanced relations with other countries. They think that these relations will harm Russia’s influence in the region,” he said.

- We can often see that external forces are pulling in different directions. How long do you think Uzbekistan can maintain such a balanced foreign policy?

- I think that Uzbekistan has achieved great growth in recent years. We can see that this country is developing very fast. The difference between Uzbekistan when I worked before and now is significant (he previously worked as director of press and public diplomacy at the State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asia). I think that Uzbekistan will continue to grow economically and politically. As Uzbekistan develops, the opinion that it is necessary to balance its power decreases. I think that Uzbekistan is strong enough to stand on its own feet.

I do not know what is going on in the minds of officials in Moscow. We have our own values and foreign political interests. But we do not try to transfer them to others. Uzbekistan chooses its own path of democratic and economic development. If someone from Moscow or elsewhere says that “we are doing something else”, they are just lying in their own interests.