In an interview with CNN's Richard Quest, Jonathan Henick, the US ambassador to Uzbekistan, discussed the country's strategic significance and its reform trajectory under President Mirziyoyev. Flanked by global powers such as Russia and China and situated within a challenging geopolitical neighborhood, Uzbekistan has long held historical importance as a trading hub with significant natural resources.
Ambassador Henick emphasized that the United States is committed to supporting Uzbekistan’s sovereignty by offering it a broad array of partnerships. "Uzbekistan has been very clear that they want to diversify their relationships," Henick said, acknowledging the nation’s efforts to expand its international engagements beyond traditional dependencies. He added, "For much of their history, they've been overly dependent on one nation or another, and they've been very deliberate over the last several years about pursuing better relations not only with the United States but also with the European Union, Korea, Turkey, and others."
Henick reflected on President Mirziyoyev's reforms, describing them as significant steps toward modernization that have made the country more attractive for foreign investment. "He's done incredible things here," he said. "We look at the elimination of child and forced labor, making the currency convertible, and systematically reducing tariffs. He's really making this a much more attractive place for foreign investments."
Henick described his diplomatic posting in Uzbekistan as a "dream assignment" and noted that the strategic relationship between the two countries continues to strengthen. "It's a country that matters to U.S. national security interests. I come to work every single day understanding what the mission is and understanding that my job is important," he said. His enthusiasm for the assignment reflects a positive outlook on the growing partnership, which he finds "professionally satisfying."
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