Albares meets Uzbek counterpart to boost Spain’s presence in Central Asia

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, met on Tuesday 7 April with his Uzbek counterpart, Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, with whom he discussed the main issues on the bilateral and international agenda.

The minister highlighted that the existing ties between Spain and Uzbekistan led to the establishment of a diplomatic mission in the country in 2022 and the strengthening of institutional presence. This has helped to create the necessary conditions to increase trade and investment in both directions, as well as to deepen collaboration on connectivity, energy, sustainable agriculture and culture. These are all areas in which Spain wishes to position itself as a partner of Uzbekistan.

The meeting takes place against the backdrop of the launch of Spain’s Strategy for Asia-Pacific 2026–2029. This strategy assigns a prominent role to strengthening relations with Uzbekistan and the rest of Central Asia. This reflects the region’s geopolitical importance for Spain and the European Union, as well as the opportunities it offers within the context of the ongoing economic transformation.

Albares also conveyed to his Uzbek counterpart Spain’s concern regarding the situation in Iran and its regional and global impact, setting out Spain’s position against the war and the need to urge all parties to halt the attacks and begin de-escalation.