In 2015, US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Samarkand.
At that time, the C5+1 format between Central Asia and the US was also at the center of the agenda. However, this visit also went down in history for a rather unpleasant and internationally resonant event.
On the eve of the meeting between Islam Karimov and John Kerry, Washington Post journalist Carol Morello attempted to ask the President of Uzbekistan a question about human rights. The question went unanswered, and the journalist was escorted out of the hall.
At first glance, this seemingly minor episode before the meeting turned into an international resonance. The Washington Post and other influential international publications covered the incident, and the issue was even raised in Washington at an official US Department of State briefing. American journalists demanded an explanation from the State Department regarding the treatment of their colleague.
The huge resonance caused by this event was no coincidence. In those years, human rights, political freedoms, and forced labor were among the most painful topics in Washington's dialogue with Uzbekistan. This few-minute episode in Samarkand practically demonstrated the general background of relations during that period.
11 years have passed. The US Secretary of State is visiting Samarkand again, and C5+1 is back on the agenda. But this time, the content of the dialogue is different. While problematic issues in Uzbekistan once dominated the dialogue with Washington, today the main focus is on cooperation, investments, and new opportunities.
This difference is also demonstrated by the scale of Marco Rubio's visit. Representatives of over 200 American companies are expected to arrive in Uzbekistan as part of the Secretary of State's visit. Investment, technology, trade, and new projects are increasingly featuring in statements coming from Washington regarding Uzbekistan. Behind such changes lies a long path traversed in recent years.
During the era of openness and reform policies initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a number of issues that had long tarnished the country's international image were resolved. Forced labor was eradicated, the economy was opened, and relations with foreign partners were rebuilt on the basis of pragmatic interests. As a result, both the attitude towards Uzbekistan and the content of dialogue with it have been renewed.
Now, the stage of turning established political trust into concrete economic results has begun. In this process, direct dialogue between the Presidential Administration, led by Saida Mirziyoyeva, and American businesses has intensified, with negotiations involving major companies and financial institutions turning into practical projects.
Therefore, when comparing Samarkand in 2015 and 2026 side by side, the difference becomes even more apparent: 11 years ago, when Washington spoke about Uzbekistan, the main emphasis was on problems. Today, new opportunities, major investments, and large projects are being discussed with Uzbekistan.
