Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has been on an official visit to Uzbekistan. On Tuesday, he met with his Uzbek counterpart, Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov, in the Central Asian country. The two ministers discussed, among other things, the guarantee of security in the Central Asian region and bilateral military-technical cooperation.
During the meeting in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, Belousov and Khalmukhamedov signed the plan of cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan for this year and the program of strategic partnership for the period of 2026 to 2030.
Belousov emphasized that Moscow and Tashkent are strategic partners and old friends. Their cooperation has reached a high level of mutual understanding and will continue to be developed. The minister explained the significance of the current meeting in the context of the international situation:
“Our joint efforts significantly impact the guarantee of security in the Central Asian region.”
The Russian minister expressed confidence that this meeting would mark a new stage in the cooperation of the two countries in the defense sector. Additionally, he congratulated Khalmukhamedov on his recent appointment as defense minister and wished him success in this responsible position. Belousov thanked the host for the invitation and the warm reception in Tashkent.
As previously announced by Russia’s Defense Ministry, the plan of military cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan for 2025 foresees more than 50 joint events.