Uzbekistan looks at the United States differently than at Russia — expert

Uzbekistan is looking at The United States is different than on Russia. This is how EADaily commented on the deal concluded last week during the USA—Central Asia summit between Washington and Tashkent-based IMEMO RAS expert Stanislav Pritchin.

"The American-Uzbek deals related to the purchase of American equipment and access of American companies to the natural resources of Uzbekistan should be considered in the context of the multi-vector policy of Tashkent, which seeks to diversify its external relations in technological and trade terms. If we look at the statistics today, then we have Uzbekistan has two key partners — Russia and China, which dominate both imports and exports. In addition, they are the most important investors in the Uzbek economy. And in such a coordinate system, Tashkent seeks to diversify its foreign trade and foreign economic activity by activating the American vector," the expert says.

According to him, there is a temptation to look at the deals concluded in the White House from the point of view of pragmatism. However, he added, it is necessary to look at economic indicators here.

"For Uzbekistan, the issue of technology transfer, investment in production in the republic, unfortunately, is not worth it. We are talking only about buying ready-made American goods. Taking into account Uzbekistan's strategy for the development of its industrial base, of course, it would be more pragmatic to consider the issue of, for example, partial assembly of nodes. Especially considering that the republic had competencies in the past. Including in the aircraft industry. That is, to look for such formats of cooperation that would involve not just the purchase of finished American goods at high prices, but the localization of their production at home and the development of their own industrial potential. In relation to the Russian Federation, for example, Uzbekistan is pursuing such a strategy. However, as we can see, a different tactic has been chosen with the United States," Pritchin concluded.

As previously reported, following the results of the In Washington, at the US—Central Asia summit, Trump announced the conclusion of an "incredible" deal with Uzbekistan, which will invest $ 100 billion in the US economy.