UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | Uzbekistan's strategic partnership with the United States has entered a new phase, with cooperation now spanning civil aviation, critical minerals, digital infrastructure, financial services, and international transport corridors — underpinned by a project portfolio with a combined value exceeding $100 billion.

The breadth of the bilateral agenda was on display during a series of high-level engagements in New York in September 2025, Washington in November 2025, and most recently in June 2026, when Uzbek officials met with representatives of major American institutions including the US Export-Import Bank, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), JP Morgan, BlackRock, Boeing, Visa, Meta, and Air Products. Discussions spanned critical minerals, energy, metallurgy, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies — sectors whose growth, analysts note, is inseparable from the development of a modern logistics infrastructure capable of connecting Uzbekistan to global markets.

Aviation at the Centre of the Agenda

Perhaps the most tangible symbol of deepening Uzbek-American cooperation is Uzbekistan Airways' agreement with Boeing. In September 2025, the national carrier signed an order for 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with an option for eight additional planes. That option was subsequently converted into a firm order during the C5+1 summit, bringing the total Uzbekistan Airways commitment to 22 Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

The long-haul fleet expansion is designed to transform Tashkent into a major air hub connecting North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia — increasing passenger traffic while simultaneously opening new corridors for international air freight. The existing Tashkent–New York direct route already serves as both a business and tourism link and a logistics channel for high-value, time-sensitive cargo.

Complementing the fleet expansion is the planned construction of a new international airport in Tashkent, which is expected to expand the country's air cargo, postal, express delivery, e-commerce, pharmaceutical transport, and international transit capabilities significantly.

Trade Growth and Investment Momentum

Bilateral trade figures reflect the growing momentum of the relationship. Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the United States reached $882 million in 2024 before crossing the $1 billion threshold in 2025. Approximately 340 American companies are currently active in the Uzbek market, spanning energy, critical minerals, transport, agriculture, and information technology.

In terms of physical cargo volumes, 60,400 tons of goods were transported between the two countries in 2025, with rail accounting for the majority at 44,200 tons, road transport for 13,800 tons, and air freight for 2,400 tons. In the first half of 2026 alone, bilateral cargo flows reached 31,200 tons, of which 30,700 tons represented imports from the United States — underscoring the scale of American goods entering the Uzbek market.

WTO Accession as a Logistics Catalyst

Uzbekistan's ongoing pursuit of World Trade Organization membership features prominently in the bilateral transport and logistics agenda. At a meeting on June 25, 2026, with a delegation led by the US Trade Representative, both sides reaffirmed US support for Uzbekistan's WTO accession process — a development that carries direct implications for the logistics sector.

WTO membership is expected to harmonise Uzbekistan's trade rules with international standards, simplify customs procedures, improve documentation transparency, and reduce barriers to foreign trade. For the logistics industry specifically, these changes translate into lower costs, shorter cargo clearance times, and a more competitive environment for exporters. They also create a more reliable legal framework for foreign investors considering investment in warehouses, logistics centres, dry ports, customs terminals, and multimodal transport services.

Regional Ambitions and Infrastructure Investment

The C5+1 format — the dialogue mechanism linking the five Central Asian states with the United States — adds a regional dimension to what might otherwise appear a purely bilateral relationship. Through this framework, discussions on trade, investment, the digital economy, supply chains, and transport connectivity are accelerating Central Asia's broader integration into global markets. For Uzbekistan, the process opens opportunities to diversify international transport corridors, enhance its transit potential, and position itself as a regional logistics hub.

To realise these ambitions, Uzbekistan has committed substantial public resources. More than $12 billion is planned for transport infrastructure development by 2030, covering road and rail modernisation, terminal upgrades, and airport expansion — a scale of investment that signals the long-term seriousness of the country's logistics reform agenda.