Uzbekistan and the U.S. Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals Cooperation

Askar Yakubov · 13:59, 05.02.2026 · Updated 16:15 · 1775 views

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure reliable supply chains in the extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

The signing ceremony took place on 4 February 2026, in Washington, following the first session of the Ministerial Meeting on Critical Mineral Resources.

The MoU was signed by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov.

In his Telegram channel, Saidov noted that critical minerals are viewed not only as an economic opportunity but also as an area of responsible partnership, promoting long-term and sustainable development.

The memorandum opens new opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation in this strategically important sector, strengthen energy security, and advance technologies for sustainable extraction and processing of critical resources.

Askar Yakubov

Askar Yakubov is a professional photojournalist with extensive experience in news and reportage photography. He specializes in fast-paced coverage of social, political, cultural, international, business, and community events, with a sharp eye for capturing expressive shots and conveying the atmosphere of an event under tight time constraints. His skill set spans reportage, portrait, and documentary photography, along with image editing and color correction, and preparing photo materials for media and digital platforms. He is known for his professionalism, adherence to editorial standards, and ability to work both independently and as part of a shooting team.