Cooperation with Uzbekistan

The diplomatic relations between the countries date back to March 20, 1992

The diplomatic relations between the countries date back to March 20, 1992.

The Presidents of both countries have been on reciprocal visits, both official and working, multiple times. The countries collaborate within the framework of the CIS and SCO as well.

December 10, 2014 saw Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official visit to Uzbekistan that led to approval of government-to-government agreements on major lines of strengthening and development of economic cooperation in 2015-2019 and on settlement of mutual financial liabilities and obligations.

Regular contacts have proliferated across many levels, including the Parliaments, ministries and agencies. The Russian-Uzbek ties are based on more than 200 treaties and agreements governing various lines and areas of bilateral cooperation. 

As far as trade and economic cooperation goes, Russia and Uzbekistan obey the Trade Agreement of November 13, 1992. All issues of trade and economic, investment, military, and military and technical relations in the energy industry or other fields are subject to consideration in the Russian-Uzbek Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation.

Military cooperation of Russia and Uzbekistan are regulated primarily by the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of May 30, 1992, Agreement on Principles of Mutual Technical and Material Support of the Armed Forces of March 2, 1994, Agreement on Further Development of Comprehensive Military and Military and Technical Cooperation of December 11, 1999, Strategic Partnership Agreement of June 16, 2004, as well as Alliance Treaty of November 14, 2005. Uzbekistan’s military still have Soviet equipment in its inventory, including tanks, IFVs, APCs, MLRSs, artillery and rocket systems, fighters and helicopters, and AD systems.

Under the Agreement on Principles of Mutual Technical and Material Support of the Armed Forces of March 2, 1994, Russia supplied mostly ammunition to Uzbekistan and provided maintenance of military equipment at Russian facilities in the mid-1990s.
In the early 2000s Russia started delivering small arms, particularly assault rifles, sniper rifles, light machine-guns, night vision devices, and special implements.

Other things shipped to Uzbekistan from Russia included ammunition, spares for armored equipment, and AD systems. Russia continued providing maintenance of military equipment. This time it was aviation.
Unlike previous experience, the project involved an Uzbek facility, namely the Chkalov Aircraft Production Association headquartered in Tashkent, which used to be central in construction of the IL-76 transport and its modifications comprising the backbone of the modern Russian AF Transport Aviation. At an early stage, the Chkalov plant provided service maintenance of IL-76 aircraft and assembled IL-78 tanker planes under a Russian-Indian contract.

Demonstrating good efficiency is UzRosAvia, a Russian-Uzbek joint venture established under the intergovernmental agreements signed in Tashkent in March 2007. The JV facilities are located at a machinery and repair plant in Chirchik, Tashkent region. UzRosAvia is equipped to provide maintenance of Mi-type combat helicopters.

In April 2017, the partners signed an agreement for development of military and technical cooperation stipulating reciprocal supply of military equipment, maintenance of weapons and systems, military and technical assistance, research and development.

Uzbekistan hosts a representative office of Rostec, Russia’s state corporation, that also projects Rosoboronexport’s interests in the country. Telephone number of the office: (+99871) 255-37-94, fax: (+99871) 215-68-66, e-mail: rep4344@rostechn.ru