Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have ratified an agreement to recognize the status of allies, which some experts have already compared to the creation of a state Union in Central Asia. The two states began talks on turning the strategic partnership into an official alliance in December 2021 and since then there have been several stages of negotiations.
In December 2022, the ”Treaty on allied relations” was signed, along with the ”Treaty on border demarcation”. Uzbekistan ratified the Treaty on 30 November 2023 and Kazakhstan followed on 22 May 2024.
The document aims to expand cooperation in politics, economy and trade, transport, energy, culture and civil defense and provides for strengthening mutual relations in the international arena. Under the terms of the agreement, the two sides will help strengthen relations between the parliaments, political parties and organizations of the two countries.
It also envisages close cooperation in the fields of foreign policy, defence and security to combat terrorism, religious extremism and separatism, transnational organised crime, cybercrime, illegal migration, human trafficking, illegal trade, including new security challenges and threats.