Abdulaziz Kamilov. Archive photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan
Relations between Uzbekistan and the United States reached a level of stability and predictability after talks between Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Donald Trump, presidential adviser on foreign policy Abdulaziz Kamilov said in an interview with Uzbekistan 24, Gazeta.uz reported.
Kamilov outlined two key stages in bilateral relations. Before 2017, cooperation “was not sufficiently stable” and focused mainly on regional security, particularly Afghanistan. In trade, economy, and investment, “we unfortunately achieved no tangible results,” he admitted.
The situation shifted after Mirziyoyev came to power in 2016. Kamilov noted that the Uzbek president’s official visit to Washington in 2018 marked the beginning of a new era of strategic partnership. Today, the bilateral agenda is much broader, covering not only security but also trade, economic, humanitarian, educational, and investment spheres.
“Practically all representatives of the American elite, including political and business circles, recognize that the two countries are entering a new stage of cooperation,” Kamilov said.
The main outcome of high-level negotiations between Tashkent and Washington, according to Kamilov, is that relations have acquired stability and predictability. He stressed that both sides are now able to discuss strategic issues and long-term perspectives.
Kamilov also highlighted Mirziyoyev’s international initiatives voiced at the UN General Assembly. While rooted in Uzbekistan’s national interests, he said, their relevance extends beyond one state.
“These initiatives and proposals directly relate to the vital national interests of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Why are they global? Because many of the challenges, threats, and dangers surrounding Uzbekistan can only be addressed at a broad international or even global level,” Kamilov explained.
Among Tashkent’s priorities, he listed regional security, environmental issues, the Aral Sea, and youth. He emphasized that Mirziyoyev’s central focus remains “Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan, and once again Uzbekistan.”
Abdulaziz Kamilov was born in November 1947 in Yangiyul. He graduated from the Diplomatic Academy of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and holds a PhD in history. Fluent in Arabic and English, he began his career in Soviet embassies in Lebanon and Syria, later working in the Soviet Foreign Ministry and academic institutes. After 1991, he served in independent Uzbekistan’s diplomatic and security structures, including as deputy head of the National Security Service. From 1994 he was first deputy foreign minister, then foreign minister, and rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy.
After four years as state adviser to the president on foreign policy (2003), Kamilov was appointed ambassador to the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, based in Washington. In 2010 he again became first deputy foreign minister, serving as foreign minister from 2012 to 2022. In April 2022, he became deputy secretary of the Security Council, then special presidential envoy for foreign policy. Since July 2025, he has served as presidential adviser on foreign affairs.
