The US Foreign Policy towards Uzbekistan: The Sovereignty of New Independent Uzbekistan and Hegemony of the United States

Central Asia and the Caucasus

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze how the relationship between Uzbekistan and the United States was reinforced, and at clarifying the reason why US decided to ensure the relationship with Uzbekistan.
Central Asian states including Uzbekistan, widely known, are new emerging states by the collapse of Soviet Union, on the end of 1991. Since this historical background, post-Soviet Central Asia is called “Russian backyard”. Geographically and politically, Uzbekistan is in the center of Russian backyard. Since October 2001, US troops have been stationed in Uzbekistan. It is common knowledge that the first purpose of US troops in Uzbekistan is anti-terrorism mission against Taliban and Al Qaeda of Afghanistan. No deadline, however, has been set for US troops to pull out of Uzbekistan, therefore “September 11” and “anti-terrorism mission” was just a trigger for long-term US military presence in post-Soviet Central Asia. And the new Uzbek-US relationship based on long-term commitment became a new axe of International relation in Central Asia.
For Uzbekistan, close relationship with US, such like long-term US military presence, is required for reinforcing sovereignty. The Russian influence is obstacle to reinforce sovereignty and independence of Uzbekistan. The hegemony of US is, therefore, most desirable factor for reducing the Russian influence. But it is questionable problem why US wanted to reinforce Uzbek-US relationship.
From 1991 to 1993, Uzbek-US relationship was strained. Especially the tension reached its peak at 1993 when the Clinton Administration established. Human rights, dearth of information about Central Asia, nuclear weapon and the problem of law were obstacles to reinforce the Uzbek-US relationship.
Since 1994, however, the US gradually changed its policy, and started to seek the close cooperation with Uzbekistan. This change of US policy was occurred by the economic factor. Nevertheless, as Uzbek government rejected the political and economic reform, this movement did not boost up until 1998.
August 1998, Clinton administration launched cruise missiles toward Al Qaeda Camp in Afghanistan and Sudan in retaliation for attack to US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. This cruise missile attack was the opening of anti-terrorism mission. In other hand, Uzbekistan faced the threat of terrorism by Islamic extreme movement, too. The act of terrorism in Uzbekistan had a potential to weal her sovereignty. So, the interests of the Uzbekistan accords with the one of US.
However, the threat of US is differ from the one of Uzbekistan. For US, Iran's influence is seriously threat, and US request Uzbekistan to progress reform for aiming to settle the poverty, which is hotbed of Islamic radicalism. It is difficult request for Uzbek government to accept, as the reform would weak her sovereignty.