Central Asia - Eurasian Economic Union or Belt and Road Initiative

The New Dynamics of Uzbekistan's Foreign Policy Since the beginning of the 1990s, the regional and international position of Uzbekistan has becomea major factor in determining the geopolitics of Central Asia. In the early years of independence, the leadership of Uzbekistan seriously highlighted the existence of numerous challenges to stability in the country and the region as a whole. They included threats of religious terrorism and radical extremism emanating from South Asia and the Middle East, as well as external pressure from major powers to secure their influence in Central Asia. As a result of the government’s balanced and pragmatic policy, Uzbekistan managed to strengthen its own defense capability, preserve the secular governance system in the country and keep the independent position of the region in an open geopolitical space. The cautious approach of Tashkent not only helped to confront the key challenges of the region but also created the conditions for elevating the Central Asian region to the next level of development. It also provided significant grounds for reviving historical ties with theoutside world.