Russian President Vladimir Putin described Western pressure on Uzbekistan over its cooperation with Moscow as "an element of imperial behaviour." Putin made these remarks on May 28 during a press briefing in Tashkent, responding to a question from an Izvestiya's correspondent.
"This is what is happening now, the fact that voyageurs all over the world are flying then to Latin America, then to Africa, then to the East. And they intimidate everyone. These are elements of imperial behaviour. And political observers, American analysts themselves say it directly: the United States is an empire," he stated.
Putin linked Washington's imperial ambitions to domestic political events, specifically citing the upcoming US presidential election in November 2024. He suggested that current US authorities are attempting to reaffirm their status as an empire, noting that many in the United States are reluctant to "carry such an imperial burden."
Putin highlighted Uzbekistan's significant role in Central Asia, noting it is the second-largest country after Russia, with a population of 37 mn. He explained Washington's interest in Tashkent-Moscow relations as part of a broader strategy involving US engagements worldwide.
"Uzbekistan is the largest country not only in Central Asia, but it is the second largest country after Russia in terms of population - 37 mn [people] (Uzbekistan's population). But that means voyageurs from the US, as I said, are flying all over the world," he said.
Central Asia's sovereignty and Western influence
Putin also commented on the pressure exerted on the Central Asian region by Western countries. He asserted that despite such pressure, not all countries are willing to blindly follow external directives.
"We know that pressure was also exerted on the Central Asian region. Something I don't see yet is that everyone is on their knees and ready to blindly follow any 'instructions' from overseas. They - Americans, and Europeans - of course, commit certain actions that harm our partners, but in the end, this is also the sovereign choice of any country: how to build its policy, fight for sovereignty or not, whether sovereignty represents a certain value or not," Putin concluded.
US strategy in Central Asia: focus on Uzbekistan
Central Asia is increasingly seen by Western powers, particularly the United States, as a strategic area to counter Russia and China. This focus intensified since February 2022. Under the Biden administration, US policy in Central Asia has maintained continuity with past strategies but with a clearer anti-Russian emphasis.
The primary objectives are:
1. Promoting regional integration without Russia and China to weaken their influence.
2. Strengthening pro-American political, cultural, and educational forces.
Uzbekistan, with the largest population in Central Asia and no memberships in CSTO or EAEU, is pivotal to US strategy. Historically complex relations saw close cooperation between 2001 and 2005. US think tanks, like the Heritage Foundation, see Uzbekistan as central to a regional coalition to counter Russia. Advocates for stronger US-Uzbek ties include figures in both nations, such as the Institute of Central Asia and the Caucasus and Uzbek officials like Abdulaziz Kamilov and Sodiq Safoyev.
US investments in Uzbekistan are growing, focusing on energy resources, pharmaceuticals, and military cooperation. However, overall economic ties remain limited.
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