Abdulaziz Kamilov: Restored ties with Europe mark a new stage in foreign policy

One of the main outcomes of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Brussels was the long-awaited signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the European Union. A similar accord was concluded nearly 30 years ago, in 1996, in Florence, Italy. However, under previous administrations, the focus of dialogue shifted, and the situation in Central Asia changed as well.

According to Abdulaziz Kamilov, who formerly served as foreign minister, the earlier document did not produce the expected impact.

“To properly assess today’s event, we should first look at it from a geopolitical perspective. This is not about one or two countries – it’s about the whole of Europe. Its GDP amounts to nearly $20 trillion, which is a huge figure. From an economic standpoint, in terms of modern technology and security, we are now achieving concrete results. The essence is not the agreement itself – what matters is that our relations with Europe have been restored,” said Kamilov.

He added that the signing of this agreement, which reflects the diversification of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, also creates a foundation for security.

“A few years ago, some people – especially bloggers – used to criticize us for pursuing a multi-vector policy. Well, here is the result of that multi-vector policy,” Kamilov remarked.

He also noted that the European Union has pragmatic interests in cooperating with Uzbekistan. Given the current geopolitical landscape – and taking into account factors such as China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan – Europe has strong reasons to engage with Uzbekistan, which lies at the heart of Central Asia.

“Nowadays, no one comes asking to invest without reason. Europe has its own clear interests. There is indeed competition among major powers, and from this perspective, the European Union trusts the president and his policy,” Kamilov emphasized.