Uzbekistan Neighbouring Countries and Central Asian Map
Uzbekistan’s Neighbors
Bordering Countries Overview
Tucked away in the heart of central Asia, Uzbekistan rubs shoulders with five other countries, setting a record as the only Central Asian state to share its borders with all its neighbors in that region. Here’s the sitch on who’s next door:
| Neighboring Country | Direction from Uzbekistan | Border Length (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | Northwest and North | 2,203 |
| Kyrgyzstan | East | 1,099 |
| Tajikistan | Southeast | 1,161 |
| Afghanistan | South | 144 |
| Turkmenistan | Southwest | 1,621 |
Sources: Britannica, Wikipedia, World Atlas
Unique Geographic Position
Imagine being one of only two places in the world that’s totally cut off from the ocean by other land-blocked countries. That’s Uzbekistan for you, standing head-to-head with Liechtenstein in sharing this rare spot on the map (Wikipedia). This means anything bound for the big blue has to hop through two other countries first.
Now, Uzbekistan’s relationships with its neighbors aren’t just marked by shared borders. There’s a little bit of everything: long stretches rubbing against Kazakhstan’s plains, the dramatic landscapes with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and a short but super-safeguarded fence line with Afghanistan — think barbed wire and patrols the works.
If you’re curious about the comings and goings near Uzbekistan, dive into pieces on Tajikistan and neighboring countries and Turkmenistan neighboring countries.
Being smack in the middle of all this action turns Uzbekistan into a busy hub for commerce and diplomacy. The nation’s spot gives it a front-row seat for trade chat and handshake deals with its neighbors. To get the lowdown on how Uzbekistan gets along trade-wise, check out sections on trade turnover with Central Asian states and economic agreements and contracts.
Bordering Countries Details
Uzbekistan, tucked in Central Asia’s heart, keeps cozy with five neighboring countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. Each carries a unique friendship card in the diplomatic, economic, and geography departments.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Imagine Kazakhstan as the big friendly giant to the northwest and north of Uzbekistan. They’re like two peas in a pod, nodding in agreement on big stuff like water management. Since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took the helm, trade has shot up 30%. These two can’t stop signing economic deals!
| Bordering Country | Length of Border (km) | Trade Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | 2,203 | 30% |
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
Head southwest, and you’ll bump into Turkmenistan hanging out with Uzbekistan. They’ve inked several regional project deals together. Both countries share a spot in the Economic Cooperation Organization, keeping those friendly vibes flowing.
| Bordering Country | Length of Border (km) |
|---|---|
| Turkmenistan | 1,621 |
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
Slide down to the southeast, and there’s Tajikistan, rubbing shoulders with Uzbekistan. This relationship is all about teamwork across several regional initiatives. Thanks to living so close, they share not just a border but also multiple economic and social ties.
| Bordering Country | Length of Border (km) |
|---|---|
| Tajikistan | 1,161 |
If you’re curious about Tajikistan’s side of things, check out our article on their neighbors.
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
Up northeast, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan enjoy a bustling friendship full of economic and cultural exchanges. Their shared border is a hub for traders and promoters of good ol’ cross-border cooperation.
| Bordering Country | Length of Border (km) |
|---|---|
| Kyrgyzstan | 1,314 |
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan
Swing down south and you hit Afghanistan. This border is more than lines on a map—it’s a focal point for regional security, trade, and those tough conversations about refugees. Uzbekistan is deeply involved in the refugee dialogue with Afghanistan.
| Bordering Country | Length of Border (km) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 144 |
Uzbekistan holds a prime spot in regional influence and stability thanks to its connections with its neighbors. For more on neighboring countries, have a look at articles discussing Serbia, Tajikistan, and Yemen’s border buddies.
Uzbekistan’s Diplomatic Relations
Economic Cooperation Organiation Ties
Uzbekistan cozies up with six other Central Asian countries in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Rubbing shoulders with neighbors like Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, they all have one main goal: boost that economic mojo, swap some tech know-how, and keep the cultural vibes real among each other. It’s all to make sure the region keeps up with that good ol’ sustainable growth and everyone’s on the same page.
Eurasian Economic Union Affiliation
In the club almost, but not quite yet: Uzbekistan is eyeing up the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) (Wikipedia). They’re dreaming of a future where goods, services, and people float around freely without borders chaining them down. This little rendezvous could be a game-changer for trade deals and economic hook-ups with their Eurasian pals.
Central Asian Union Involvement
Back in ’94, Uzbekistan got busy founding the Central Asian Union with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan popped in a bit later, in March ’98. It’s like all the cool kids of Central Asia joining forces, focusing on beefing up security, hustling on trade, and keeping cultural activities buzzing.
GUAM Alliance Membership
Once upon a time in 1999, Uzbekistan took a grand step into GUAM — a merry group including Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. But alas, their romance was short-lived as they peaced out in 2005. During their stay, the shared mission was all about lifting up economic vibes, championing democracy, and ensuring the neighborhood stayed safe and sound.
Diplomatic Relations with the United Kingdom
A proper nod to history here: diplomatic ties between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom have been on since February 18, 1992 (Wikipedia). From trade talks to cultural chit-chat, they’ve been teaming up to face those big world issues. Both keep the foot on the pedal to make sure their partnership runs smoothly, aiming high together.
Uzbekistan’s worldwide schmoozing in these groups shows it’s not just sitting back. It’s ready for some serious teamwork and relationship-building across the globe. Hungry for more insights on Central Asian friends and their connections with Uzbekistan? Check out how they buddy up with Turkmenistan and what’s the scoop with Tajikistan.
Trade and Economic Relations
Trade Turnover with Central Asian States
Between 2017 and 2019, Uzbekistan saw a big jump in trade with its Central Asian neighbors, hitting $5.2 billion. Even when the world took a hit from the pandemic, Uzbekistan managed to keep trade levels close with these countries, clocking in $5 billion in 2020. Clearly, folks over there like doing business together (Indian Council of World Affairs).
| Year | Trade Turnover (USD Billions) |
|---|---|
| 2017 | – |
| 2018 | – |
| 2019 | 5.2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
Foreign Trade Turnover Share
Come 2020, Central Asian countries snagged 13.6% of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade, a step up from 12.4% in 2019. Who’s leading the pack? Here’s how the chips fell:
- Kazakhstan: 61%
- Kyrgyzstan: 18.2%
- Turkmenistan: 10.6%
- Tajikistan: 10.2%
These stats show that these countries are pretty tight, relying more on each other for trade.
| Country | Trade Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | 61 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 18.2 |
| Turkmenistan | 10.6 |
| Tajikistan | 10.2 |
Economic Agreements and Contracts
From 2017 to 2020, Uzbekistan and its neighbors inked more than 300 agreements worth around $75 billion. These agreements are a testament to the strong bond and keen interest in working together amongst these nations.
Border Crossings and Connectivity
It’s not just trade; people are moving too! Before the pandemic put the brakes on, this is what the borders looked like:
- At the Uzbek-Kyrgyz line, about 30,000 folks crossed daily.
- Over at the Uzbek-Tajik border, around 20,000 folks made their way across every day.
The high numbers of people crossing borders tell a tale of friendship and cooperation, which is great for business and understanding each other better.
Humanitarian Assistance and Cooperation during the Pandemic
When the pandemic hit, Uzbekistan and its buddies stepped up to the plate. They swapped aid, with Uzbekistan helping Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan lending a hand at the Sardoba Reservoir. This teamwork helped these countries keep their COVID numbers down compared to others around the world.
For more on who’s rubbing elbows with whom, check out serbia neighboring countries, sudan neighboring countries, or turkmenistan neighboring countries.
Recent Developments and Challenges
Ethnic Minority Protests
In July, the streets of Uzbekistan heated up with protests from the Karakalpak ethnic minority. What started off as calm and peaceful gatherings quickly spiraled into chaos when law enforcement intervened. That one move turned protests into violent clashes, causing an alarming number of casualties. It was the biggest outburst of violence against civilians there since ACLED started keeping track in 2018.
Crackdown on Demonstrations
How did officials handle the Karakalpak unrest? With a firm grip – almost too firm. The core of the discontent revolved around issues like autonomy and local governance, areas the protesters felt were being ignored. The response? Intensifying the violence with aggressive measures led to even more fatalities and chaos (ACLED).
Uzbekistan’s Policy Shifts
Uzbekistan’s been trying to put its best foot forward lately. They’ve been making waves with new policies aimed at polishing up their image on the global stage. The government’s been diving into economic and diplomatic reforms, trying to play nice with its neighbors and become a bigger player in Central Asia and beyond.
Improved Regional Relations
Things are looking rosier between Uzbekistan and its neighbors. They’re on better terms with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, thanks to teamwork on trade, security, and culture. These moves are all about creating a friendly vibe in the region, and it looks like they’re working.
| Country | Recent Improvements |
|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | More trade and shared infrastructure projects |
| Turkmenistan | Signed agreements focusing on energy |
| Tajikistan | Ramped up border security and trade |
Energy Cooperation and Infrastructure Projects
Uzbekistan’s busy building partnerships on energy and infrastructure. They’re pushing for greater energy efficiency and creating sustainable power sources, while also laying down roads and rails to make trading a breeze across borders. From new power plants to revamping old ones, they’re all in on making the region more connected and economically tight-knit.
If you’re curious about how relations are shaping up in other places, take a peek at articles on saudi arabia neighbouring countries and sierra leone neighbouring countries.