Uzbekistan Won’t Allow Foreign Military Bases, New Leader Says
This article is for subscribers only.
The new leader of Uzbekistan dented Russia’s prospects of reviving influence in the central Asian nation by ruling out the presence of foreign military bases on its territory.
Shavkat Mirziyoev, who was named acting president two days after he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, said Uzbekistan will also stay out of any military alliances. While Uzbekistan wants friendly ties with its former Soviet neighbors and “first and foremost” with Russia, it also seeks “mutually beneficial” relations with the U.S. and Europe, and to strengthen a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with China, he said.