Uzbekistan and the UK discuss military cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan headed by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, participating in the Munich Security Conference, met with Secretary of State for Defence of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Gavin Alexander Williamson on 15 February 2019.

The sides discussed the state and prospects of expanding Uzbek-British relations, a number of international and regional problems, including issues of cooperation in the fight against modern security challenges and threats.

Williamson, positively assessing the level of Uzbek-British cooperation in the military sphere, expressed the interest of the British Defense Ministry to intensify cooperation in this area. The British side is ready to render all possible assistance to the reform processes in the system of the Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan, including the improvement of the Armed Forces and the advanced training of military personnel.

Special attention was paid to the Afghan problem. The British minister stressed London’s support for the outcome of the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan in March 2018, at which consensus was reached in the international community on the need to help launch the peaceful political process in that country.

In addition, G. Williamson called the Uzbek-British consultations on Afghanistan an important mechanism of bilateral relations and noted the readiness of the UK for closer cooperation in this area.

The meeting also exchanged views on the support by the British side of the major socio-economic and infrastructure projects initiated by Uzbekistan in Afghanistan.