Bolstering the relationship between Uzbekistan and NATO was the subject of a meeting in February 2016 between senior officials with the government and the alliance.
Uzbek Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov and Minister of Defense Kabul Berdiev met with Rosaria Puglisi, NATO’s liaison officer for Central Asia. They discussed ways to enhance cooperation.
The meeting occurred days after Pamela Spratlen, the U.S. ambassador to Uzbekistan, stressed the importance of stability and prosperity in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states during a press conference in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan’s proximity to Afghanistan and geographic position in the region make it a major partner in ensuring stability and safety for the entire Central Asian region, the ambassador said. Spratlen emphasized that the United States will continue cooperating with Uzbekistan as long as necessary.
Sources: AKIpress, NATO