Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/germany-signs-agreement-migration-with-uzbekistan-2024-09-15/
On September 15th, Germany signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to allow the migration of skilled workers to support the German economy and help Uzbek citizens prosper. The agreement also helped facilitate the return of some immigrants back to Uzbekistan. After meeting with the Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated “We are enabling the necessary immigration of workers with great talent that we need in Germany so that our economy can grow”. Neither leader commented on speculation that the return of immigrants would include the deportation of Afghan criminals back to Afghanistan, a process which had halted due to human rights concerns after the Taliban’s return to power.
This agreement is beneficial to both the German economy and the Uzbek economy because Germany needs more skilled workers and Uzbekistan is battling inflation and unemployment. With the Uzbek currency having a transfer rate of 12,500 Som to nearly 1 USD, and the GDP per capita being USD 1,751, Uzbek workers will be much better off working under a more stable economy. This is also a pro because Uzbek workers will be able to better support their families back home, helping the central-Asian country’s economy thrive
We have already seen many good relations between Western and many central Asian countries, but with this new immigration agreement, allyship between Germany and Uzbekistan will most likely grow. With relations between Uzbekistan and a country with a stronger military, Germany, the Uzbek government may be better equipped to crack down on terror attacks and limit extremist groups. As the German government has no relation to the Taliban, (if they are) deporting criminals back to Afghanistan could have any number of results, from freedom to a death sentence. It all depends on what the criminal offense was and how the Taliban views what they have done, however, deporting criminals to Afghanistan may result in the Taliban viewing Germany more positively.
Germany is considered a multi-state nation because many people of German nationality are spread out across multiple nations (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, etc.). Uzbekistan is considered a nation-state as Uzbek people live mostly only in Uzbekistan, and other nationalities do not make up a large percentage of the population.