Article Link: https://eurasianet.org/uzbek-leader-wants-to-expand-nuclear-cooperation-with-china
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the head of China’s National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) during a recent trip to China, following earlier nuclear cooperation deals with Russia’s Rosatom. This meeting, along with new mining deals including for uranium signed with China, suggests Uzbekistan is seeking alternative options potentially due to concerns about Rosatom’s financial stability amid international sanctions on Russia. That’s why Uzbekistan is also in talks with China, which has been gaining influence in Central Asia.
This article shows how Uzbekistan is trying to keep good ties with both Russia and China when it comes to nuclear energy. Russia has been the main partner in Central Asia for a long time, but now with sanctions and money problems from the war in Ukraine, Uzbekistan isn’t sure if it can fully count on them. That is why they are also talking to China. This matters because it shows how smaller countries in the region are adjusting when bigger powers struggle. In the long run, it could mean that Russia will lose some control in Central Asia while China grows stronger there.
Each group involved would look at this situation differently. For Uzbekistan, this is about making sure they get the power they need without being too dependent on one country. Russia would probably see this as a bad sign, since they want to stay the main player in their region. On the other hand, China would see it as an opportunity to gain more influence by stepping in where Russia is weak. For Western countries, this could be a mix- they may not like China’s growing role, but they also don’t mind seeing Russia lose its influence. Everyone has different stakes in this situation.
Although we have not learned much about these situations in class yet, this article still connects to a few of the ideas we’ve talked about. One of the main topics was types of states, and Uzbekistan fits into the idea of a smaller state that has to work carefully with bigger powers around it. By trying to work both Russia and China, Uzbekistan is making sure it doesn’t depend too much on one side. This also connects a little to IGO’s, since groups like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would likely be involved in checking on nuclear safety and making sure rules are followed. Overall, it shows how the concepts we’ve started learning about in class actually appear in real-world events.