Unique strength of Belarus-Uzbekistan relations

International relations are rarely a matter of chance. Behind every successful alliance lie years of hard work, political will, and the ability of nations to look beyond short-term gains toward the future. This is exactly the case for Belarus-Uzbekistan relations.

The roots of cooperation between Minsk and Tashkent extend far beyond modern diplomacy. They run deep into the Soviet era and the years of the Great Patriotic War — a time when the peoples of the two nations were united by a shared tragedy and a common struggle.

Following the Nazi occupation, Uzbekistan became a second home and a sanctuary for many Belarusians. It welcomed residents from Belarusian towns and villages, factory workers, entire relocated enterprises, as well as scientists and cultural figures, including the renowned poet Yakub Kolas. He wrote extensively about his time in Tashkent, and this chapter of shared history now serves as a cultural bridge between the two countries. In 2018, a monument to Yakub Kolas was unveiled in Uzbekistan’s capital, marking the first monument to the legendary Belarusian bard outside his homeland.

During the war, thousands of Uzbekistan natives fought on Belarusian soil. Soldiers and officers from Central Asia advanced alongside Red Army units, liberating Belarusian cities and villages. Today, the names of many of them are immortalized in memorials, and this remembrance remains a vital element of relations between the two states. After all, true friendship between nations is formed not just through treaties and agreements — it is born when people support one another during the most challenging times in history.

«We know that during the Great Patriotic War, you did a great deal for Belarusians. Many of our people found refuge in Uzbekistan, and they were treated with genuine humanity. In this regard, we are somewhat indebted to you, even though it all took place within one country,» Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a recent meeting with the ambassador of Uzbekistan.

During the post-war period, Belarusians helped rebuild Tashkent after it was devastated by a massive earthquake. In 1966, more than 2,000 Belarusian construction workers arrived in the city. They built 26,600 square meters of housing and a secondary school for nearly a thousand students. It was following those events, in 1967, that Tashkentskaya Street appeared on the map of Minsk. Today, it is home to the capital’s zoo and the Chizhovka Arena sports complex.

From diplomatic contacts to strategic partnership

After gaining independence, Minsk and Tashkent started building their political dialogue. In December 1994, Aleksandr Lukashenko paid an official visit to Uzbekistan, where the countries signed a declaration on further strengthening friendship and cooperation. Yet, hitting impressive trade numbers in the subsequent years failed to materialize — the two heads of state (with Islam Karimov leading Uzbekistan back then) failed to establish a strong personal rapport.

A new chapter in Belarus-Uzbekistan relations began about a decade ago, when Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed the presidency of Uzbekistan. The driving force behind this shift was the mutual trust established between the two leaders.

«In this new era, as I often tell my friend Shavkat, we have accomplished far more in Belarus-Uzbekistan relations over the past year than in the preceding 20 years,» Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev likewise stated that relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan had exceeded all expectations in just a couple of years. «Belarus is a close friend and a reliable partner for us. Over the past two years, our relations in all areas have surpassed all expectations. This demonstrates what can be achieved when the country’s leadership has the desire and the political will,» he said during talks with the Belarusian leader in September 2018.

And that was indeed the case. Regular meetings between the heads of state made it possible to reboot bilateral cooperation, moving it beyond general statements into practical action. Today, nearly every area of Belarus-Uzbekistan interaction is backed by concrete substance. If earlier the main issue was increasing trade, now the focus is on creating joint production facilities, exchanging technologies, developing industrial cooperation, and entering new markets.

«Belarusians and Uzbeks are very similar peoples: tolerant, flexible. We always mind our own business, don’t take anything from anyone, and are not going to wage wars. We are hardworking nations and are ready to seek and find our own happiness,» Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

Why Uzbekistan is interested in Belarus

Modern Uzbekistan is one of the most dynamically developing countries in Central Asia. The country is actively modernizing its manufacturing industry, developing infrastructure, expanding production, and increasing the technological level of its economy. To solve these tasks, reliable partners are needed: those who possess not only finished products but also competencies.

And here Belarus offers what has been formed over decades: its engineering school, industrial production experience, a developed system of personnel training, the ability to create complex machinery and organize a full production cycle.

The Belarusian approach is not simply about selling a finished product. It is about transferring experience, creating joint enterprises, training specialists, and forming long-term industrial ties. This format is in highest demand today, since Uzbekistan gains the opportunity to accelerate the modernization of its economy, while Belarus gains a long-term partner in one of the largest markets of Central Asia.

«In our contacts with Uzbek partners, we reached a clear understanding long ago that simple trade has limited potential, and it is important to develop cooperation more intensively, interact more actively in investment, and move toward significant projects to create joint production facilities, where industrial cooperation plays the key role. Manufacturing is our driver, yet we see considerable reserves for further deepening cooperation in other areas as well from agriculture, woodworking, and pharmaceuticals to logistics, and interaction in the financial and IT spheres,» Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin emphasized earlier this year.

Belarus offers Uzbekistan three practical vectors of investment sustainability: industrial partnership, intelligent technologies and digital autonomy of production, and investments in the service industry and tourism.

Among possible investment projects, the creation of year-round premium-class medical and rehabilitation complexes in Belarus is being discussed. These are not just local projects but shares in a large-scale, constantly capitalized business in exporting medical and tourist services.

Cooperation as the foundation of foundations

One of the main symbols of Belarus-Uzbekistan cooperation remains mechanical engineering. And this is logical: Belarus has preserved competencies for decades in producing machinery that is in demand in various sectors from agriculture to construction and manufacturing. Uzbekistan, in turn, is actively modernizing its economy and needs reliable modern equipment. And this is not just about selling machinery but about creating a stable production chain. Such projects are considered the most promising in the global economy today.

Another area where Belarus and Uzbekistan are actively aligning their positions is the agro-industrial complex. The two countries have different natural conditions and specialization, but precisely for this reason their experience complements each other well.

Belarusian approaches in animal husbandry are especially in demand. Modern dairy complexes, breeding work, farm automation, feed production, veterinary support: all these areas attract the interest of Uzbek specialists.

Uzbekistan is actively developing its agricultural sector, striving to increase productivity and expand the depth of product processing. And here Belarus can offer not only equipment but also knowledge, which is an important point.

Today, a partner who can help solve the entire production task is valued more than a simple supplier of machinery.

«We have the technologies you need today and even tomorrow. You don’t need to go around the world and bow to anyone. We offer this to you with an open heart, asking nothing in return. And we cannot demand anything: we are equal, similar countries: what could we demand from each other? Only on a good basis can we cooperate with you, and you with us,» Aleksandr Lukashenko said two years ago in Tashkent during negotiations with Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The Belarusian leader then named import substitution and technological sovereignty as the major priorities. «Given the production and intellectual resources of our countries, we see enormous potential in mechanical engineering, the agro-industrial complex, and light industry. We paid special attention to deepening cooperation in pharmaceuticals, including the production of Belarusian medicines in Uzbekistan and the creation of new joint enterprises,» the president added.

How is all this reflected in numbers? About 230 enterprises with Belarusian capital are registered in Uzbekistan. A very substantial pool of Uzbek businessmen operates in Belarus as well. Over the past 10 years, the countries have increased trade in goods by 13 times, and that in services by 30 times.

In 2025, mutual trade amounted to nearly $855 million, which was almost 35% more than in 2024. The heads of state consider reaching $2 billion within a few years to be realistic. Belarus has a surplus of more than $517 million in trade with Uzbekistan. The trade in services is also growing. In 2025, it surged by 56.1% year-on-year to total $207.9 million.

What is Uzbekistan for Belarus

Cooperation between the countries cannot be viewed solely through the lens of Belarusian exports. Uzbekistan is also an important partner for Belarus in terms of imports. First and foremost, this concerns goods that complement the Belarusian economy and consumer market: textile products, cotton raw materials, vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, and nuts.

Uzbekistan has traditionally been one of the largest producers of agricultural products in the region. For Belarus, this is an opportunity to expand its range of goods, especially during periods when domestic production of certain crops is limited by climatic conditions.

In addition, Uzbekistan possesses significant reserves of natural resources: gas, copper, gold, uranium, and other types of raw materials make the country one of the important economic centers of Central Asia. For Belarus’ industrial economy, stable supplies of certain types of raw materials are of strategic importance.

Thus, cooperation is not built on the principle of «who sells more to whom». It is based on mutual complementarity.

‘Gateway’ to Afghanistan

Moreover, Uzbekistan is also an opportunity for Belarus to enter other markets in Central Asia with joint products, and above all, Afghanistan.

«Uzbekistan is also a ’gateway’ to Afghanistan for us. Especially now, when this country has difficult relations with Pakistan, and Iran is preoccupied with its own issues. These are currently the only serious ‘gateway’. We are going into Afghanistan through Uzbekistan,» Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov said. «Our Uzbek partners are providing us with every possible assistance, both in terms of joint products and in allowing the use of Uzbekistan’s territory to deliver our goods to Afghanistan. Last year, our trade with Afghanistan exceeded $200 million.»

Why the $2 billion target is realistic

The main difference of the current stage in relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan is that the countries have already created the necessary foundation. There is political trust, business interest, and successful examples of joint projects. There is an understanding that long-term cooperation is more beneficial than one-off contracts. This is precisely why the Belarusian‑Uzbek partnership today is developing not as a temporary economic project, but as a strategic model of interaction.
When the presidents speak about the need to bring trade to $2 billion, it is not only about increasing the number of deals. It is about qualitatively expanding the scope of cooperation. There is a room for growth in nearly all areas: industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics, and digital technologies.

One of the most effective mechanisms for developing cooperation has been direct ties between regions. Just a few years ago, the bulk of diplomatic activity was traditionally concentrated at the level of central government bodies. Today, the situation has changed: more and more decisions are made directly at the level of provinces, cities, and enterprises. This approach has an obvious advantage, as local authorities and businesses have a better understanding of the real needs of the local economy. In other words, while an overall strategy is shaped at the state level, it is the regions that turn it into specific projects.

«I like our agreement to aim for a two‑billion‑dollar trade in the near future, somewhere around 2030. This is entirely possible, especially since the economies of our countries are not competitors to each other. Everything we know how to do, from agriculture to mechanical engineering, is all needed by the densely populated Uzbekistan,» Aleksandr Lukashenko noted at a March meeting with the head of Uzbekistan’s diplomatic mission. «The history is good, and our relations are very good. I hope these relations will continue. Therefore, Shavkat Mirziyoyev visit to Belarus in this regard will be a landmark and historic one. You are a key partner for us.»

In international affairs, some projects are shaped by the fleeting trends of the moment. Others, by contrast, are built over the course of years and slowly grow into a strategic asset for a state. Belarusian‑Uzbek cooperation belongs precisely to the second case. Minsk and Tashkent have come a long way, from the shared tragedy of the war years to modern joint projects. Today marks a new stage when historical friendship is transforming into technological, economic, and human partnership for the 21st century.