Uzbekistan announces $12 billion in potential deals following Rubio visit

Uzbekistan has announced investment agreements across various economic sectors potentially valued at $12 billion. These developments follow a high-level visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in a business forum in Samarkand and a C5+1 ministerial meeting involving diplomats from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the United States.

During the visit, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Rubio the Order of Outstanding Merit. Uzbekistan also announced its accession to the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led initiative for peaceful space exploration. To support these economic goals, a U.S.-Uzbek business council will be established to improve the nation’s investment environment, focusing on transparency and reducing administrative procedures.

Simultaneously, Russian military personnel arrived in Uzbekistan for the Hamkorlik-2026 joint military exercises, scheduled from October 20 to 27. The drills include assault units, reconnaissance, strike drones, and robotic systems.