International relations of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the system of Central Asian integration (1991-2006)

The article analyzes the state of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia. The international relations between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the period from 1991 to 2006 were complex and multifaceted. Since Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were part of the Soviet Union, they established political, economic, and cultural ties to a certain extent. At the same time, there were contradictions regarding the border and the ethnic composition of the population. The countries of Central Asia within the Soviet Union were considered as a single economic zone and a raw material base. Therefore, in the countries of Central Asia, a special place was given to the interregional division of labor with an emphasis on the provision of raw materials; many important resources and products were sent from Russia to the regions, which predetermined the configuration of modern transport routes, but the administrative borders belonging to these states were not taken into account in economic relations. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, both countries gained independence, and it became necessary to review state relations. The issue of borders and ethnic minorities has become a source of tension. At various times, bilateral cooperation has been accompanied by conflicts related to efforts, water resources, trade, and political regimes. Both countries sought to develop economic ties, but trade relations were often complicated by political factors. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have participated in various integration initiatives, as well as in the organization of Central Asian Economic cooperation. In the 1990s, both countries faced threats from terrorist groups, which led to some rapprochement in order to maintain external security. Since 2001, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have been members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and this event has had an impact on bilateral relations.