The Dawn of the Struggle for Central Asia: Uzbekistan Secures $14 Billion Energy Investment from Saudi Arabia

Despite promising prospects, numerous obstacles remain in fully realizing the potential of the dual-regional relationship.

The GCC-CA Summit originally scheduled for May 2025 in Tashkent has been postponed due to severe flooding in Uzbekistan, which required full attention from Uzbek authorities. However, this does not change the fact that for Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, deepening multi-faceted relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council is crucial for safeguarding their national interests in a multipolar world.

From a Central Asian perspective, the GCC relationship provides a key platform to address security challenges, particularly those emanating from Afghanistan. However, internal competition within the GCC, Turkey's dominant position, Russia's enduring security influence, and broader geopolitical instability limit this ambitious vision.

Economic cooperation is the pillar of GCC-Central Asia relations, providing resources to strengthen security and development. As Leila Ali of the Gulf Center pointed out, Central Asia's rich mineral, metal, and agricultural reserves align with the GCC's need for diversified supply chains to support non-oil economic growth. In 2024, the average annual growth rate of the GCC's non-oil economy will exceed 4%.

Uzbekistan has secured $14 billion in energy investments from Saudi Arabia, while the UAE has committed to investing $10 billion in regional infrastructure, industry, and green energy projects. These investments enable Central Asian countries to modernize critical infrastructure, enhance their economic resilience against external pressures, and strengthen their independence from traditional major powers.

The GCC-Central Asia relationship combines economic ambition with diversification in security and foreign policy. By pragmatically addressing the challenges facing their relationships, Central Asian countries can improve their economic conditions, counter regional threats, reduce dependence on traditional major powers, and maintain strategic autonomy.

Source: nationalinterest

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833507575726087/

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