Palestine or Israel? Does the USA require Uzbekistan to choose one side?

The USA invested $14.3 million in Uzbekistan. This was announced by USAID administrator Samantha Power on October 24 in the city of Samarkand at the "C5+1" format conference between the USA and Central Asian countries. The main issue on the conference agenda was the allocation of $14 million to Uzbekistan. The purpose of these funds is to support the development of private entrepreneurship in the country, facilitate the transition to a green economy, and address issues in the fields of education and healthcare.

Specifically, $3.2 million is designated for tuberculosis patients in the country, $4 million for emergency situations that may occur in Uzbekistan, and $3.5 million for the development of women's entrepreneurship and support for small business owners. The remaining funds are to be spent on improving local governance and addressing educational problems.

Journalists were not allowed to participate in the closed-door discussions, which involved ministers from Central Asian countries and a representative from the USA.

"We are stronger and the world is safer when we stand together," said Samantha Power, quoting President Biden's speech.

Nonetheless, only the 30-minute press conference was open to journalists.

We are interested in the USA's attitude toward the countries of Central Asia, which have not yet disclosed their positions in the current Israel-Palestine conflict while considering the realities of today's political scene.

"Israel has the right to defend itself as any country that suffered an attack when of such magnitude of such devastation would do not only as a right to do but has an obligation to do. But as the President said, how that fight is prosecuted, and the Palestinian people should not pay the price. They themselves are in many instances of the victims of HAMAS brutality.

So that's just to be clear about the US position, which is a position that also has been backed up over decades in relentless dramatic efforts to try to solve a state solution. And so it should not bring any insecurity for all people up that region in terms of our posture toward other countries, you know. I'll just take your first example of Russia and Ukraine. You know, to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia invaded its neighbor, pulverized Ukrainian cities, abduct 1000s of Ukrainian children and take them away from their parents. Systematic sexual violence and torture for people who end up in the hands of the Russian invaders and occupiers in light of what I've just described, you know. I don't think it should surprise it. At that egregious violation, those egregious violations of international law and urge countries not to side with the Russian Federation, and to whether publicly or privately to convey their deep concern and alarm at those kinds of actions.

Every sovereign country will make its own decision about how it balances, for example, its geography, its values, its self-interests. And it is for every sovereign country and every sovereign people, of course, to make their own decisions about how to balance that. But the United States, never hesitate. Not to require, as your question put it, but to advocate for the upholding of the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, international humanitarian law, and that is such a thing we were doing in the Middle East and something we are doing with regard to Russia," replied Samantha Power