Uzbekistan - Türkiye relations marked by long-standing friendship and solidarity

On 29 January, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will undertake an official visit to Türkiye. During the visit, the fourth meeting of the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation is scheduled to take place, underscoring the growing bilateral ties between the two countries. As part of the visit, President Mirziyoyev will also participate in an online ceremony inaugurating residential complexes built by Uzbekistan in the Arsuz district of Hatay Province, one of the areas most severely affected by the February 2023 earthquake. The project reflects ongoing efforts to support earthquake-affected communities through international collaboration.

Over the past years, these areas have undergone extensive reconstruction and the visit of the President of Uzbekistan adds particular symbolic significance to efforts aimed at restoring infrastructure and social life. It also highlights the depth of Uzbek–Turkish relations, founded on principles of brotherhood, strategic partnership and mutual support.

In February 2023, Türkiye faced one of the most severe tragedies in its modern history. A powerful earthquake struck the southeastern regions of the country, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread destruction of residential areas, social infrastructure and industrial zones.

The provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep were at the epicenter of the disaster. Thousands of families lost their homes and tens of thousands were forced to leave their communities. The international community responded to the tragedy, with Uzbekistan being among the first countries to express solidarity and provide practical assistance.

Uzbekistan acted in this critical moment as a brotherly country within the Turkic world and as a reliable strategic partner of Türkiye. Specialized units from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan, equipped with modern rescue equipment, were rapidly deployed to the affected regions. Uzbek rescue teams and medical brigades participated in search-and-rescue operations, provided first aid to the injured and carried out humanitarian missions.

Medical supplies, food, essential goods and other humanitarian aid were delivered to the affected areas. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, visited Hatay and Gaziantep, expressing support and solidarity with the Turkish people. He also held discussions with his Turkish counterparts on the next steps for providing continued assistance.

Uzbekistan’s involvement in long-term recovery efforts for the affected regions has been particularly significant. In the Arsuz district of Hatay Province, with the support of the Uzbek government, a residential complex was constructed free of charge for citizens who lost their homes in the earthquake. The project stands as a tangible symbol of practical solidarity and humanitarian responsibility, going beyond one-off assistance.

This stance reflects Uzbekistan’s long-standing commitment to developing comprehensive cooperation with Türkiye. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 4 March 1992, with Türkiye being one of the first nations to recognize the independence of Uzbekistan. Since then, Uzbek-Turkish relations have steadily progressed across political, economic, humanitarian and cultural spheres.

A key milestone in the development of bilateral dialogue was the signing of a Joint Statement in October 2017 in Ankara, which elevated cooperation between Uzbekistan and Türkiye to the level of a strategic partnership. In May 2018, another Joint Statement was signed in Tashkent, establishing the Uzbek–Turkish Council for Strategic Cooperation, chaired by the presidents of both countries. This mechanism has become an important institutional platform for coordinating collaboration across key sectors. The Council held its first meeting in February 2020 in Ankara, and its second meeting in March 2022 in Tashkent, which further elevated relations to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership. The third session of the Council took place in June 2024 in Ankara, reaffirming the stability and momentum of the political dialogue between the two nations.

In recent years, President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev has made five official visits to Türkiye, while the President of Türkiye has repeatedly visited Uzbekistan, reflecting the high intensity of contacts at the highest level between the two countries.

A distinct aspect of bilateral relations is cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, where Uzbekistan and Türkiye advocate for deepening political dialogue, enhancing economic integration, improving transport connectivity and preserving their shared Turkic cultural heritage. In this context, inter-parliamentary ties are also actively developing, including the work of friendship groups and regular contacts between the leaders of legislative bodies.

Alongside this, cooperation between the foreign ministries of both countries is also actively developing.

Thirteen rounds of political consultations have been held, the most recent taking place in June 2025 in Ankara. The Uzbek side also regularly participates in major international diplomatic events in Türkiye, including the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which has become an important platform for discussing regional and global agendas.

Economic partnership between Uzbekistan and Türkiye continues to demonstrate steady growth and diversification. Türkiye ranks among Uzbekistan’s largest trade and economic partners. In 2023, a Preferential Trade Agreement was signed, opening additional opportunities for businesses in both countries. By the end of 2025, the volume of bilateral trade reached approximately USD 3 billion. Cooperation in the investment sphere is also expanding, with a significant portion of investments directed toward industry, construction, energy, textiles and infrastructure projects. Transport corridors are actively developing, with increased volumes of rail, road and air cargo. Regular air connections between the two countries now approach nearly 100 flights per week.

Cultural and humanitarian cooperation remains equally significant, grounded in shared historical roots, language, traditions and spiritual heritage. In Türkiye, the legacy of great figures of Uzbek literature and culture is held in high esteem. The unveiling of a monument to Alisher Navoi in Ankara and the hosting of international scholarly conferences dedicated to Abu Rayhan Beruni, Mahmudkhodja Behbudi and other prominent thinkers are vivid examples of this respect. Educational forums, meetings of university rectors, cultural festivals and joint projects in the fields of science and the arts are regularly organized, further strengthening the cultural ties between the two nations.

Thus, the upcoming visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Ankara represents a continuation of Uzbekistan’s path toward deepening a comprehensive strategic partnership with Türkiye as well as a natural gesture of solidarity with the regions affected by the earthquake. The visit underscores the readiness of the two brotherly nations to support each other in challenging times and to jointly build a future based on mutual trust, respect and the shared values of the Turkic world.

Dunyo IA