Uzbekistan lawmakers on Thursday approved a foreign policy bill which bans the creation of foreign military bases in the Central Asian country or its participation in military blocs. The bill, which has yet to be signed by President Islam Karimov, outlines a “foreign policy concept” for Uzbekistan, and is seen as a symbolic gesture towards both Russia and the United States as the country’s geopolitical importance grows ahead of the pullout of troops from Afghanistan. The concept, initiated by Karimov, comes shortly after Tashkent exited a Russia-led military alliance, a move that sparked talk of Uzbekistan’s changing allegiances and seeking to establish US bases on its territory. Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov presented the bill to the Uzbek senate Thursday saying that “there will not be any bases or operations centres on our territory.” He was referring to reports in Russian media which said Uzbekistan might host a regional operations centre for the United States after its pullout from Afghanistan in 2014. While the bill celebrates neutrality, some observers view it as an attempt to demonstrate goodwill to Moscow after quitting the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (ODKB), in June while at the same time issuing an invitation for Western partners.
