Uzbekistan and Russia have signed a cooperation plan between their defense ministries for 2025 and a strategic partnership program in the military sphere for 2026–2030, Gazeta.uz reports, citing the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan.
The signing ceremony took place on January 22 in Tashkent. The documents were signed by the heads of the defense ministries of Uzbekistan and Russia, Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov and Andrey Belousov.
The cooperation plan for 2025 includes 50 joint activities covering all areas of the two countries' military departments, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
During a bilateral meeting at the central office of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defense, Minister Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov noted that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia in various spheres contributes to strengthening bilateral ties.
The defense ministers discussed the current state of Uzbek-Russian defense cooperation and prospects for its development.
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov emphasized that "Russia and Uzbekistan are strategic partners and long-standing friends." He stated that cooperation between Moscow and Tashkent "has reached a high level of mutual understanding and continues to expand."
"This is especially important in the current international context. The leaders of Russia and Uzbekistan pay great attention to developing ties between the two countries' security agencies. Our joint work significantly contributes to ensuring security in the Central Asian region, which is why we attach great importance to today's meeting," Andrey Belousov remarked.
After the official reception, the Russian military delegation visited the Victory Park Memorial Complex and laid flowers at the base of the "Ode to Fortitude" monument.
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also received Russia's defense minister. Their meeting focused on the development and strengthening of Uzbek-Russian relations in the context of the agreements reached during the state visit of the Russian president to Uzbekistan in May 2024.
The importance of expanding cooperation between the two countries' defense ministries in accordance with adopted programmatic and planning documents was emphasized.
This marks Andrey Belousov's first visit to Uzbekistan as Russia’s defense minister.
CentralasianLIGHT.org,
January 22, 2025