Access to waterways: Mirziyoyev aims to break “geographical shackles”

Landlocked developing countries face significant challenges in participating in international trade and advancing transport and economic development. This group includes 32 countries such as Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Bolivia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Chad, and others. However, Uzbekistan’s situation is more complex—it must cross not one but two international borders to access sea waters. This natural restriction is shared only by Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan worldwide. This geographical barrier considerably limits Uzbekistan’s capabilities compared to the more than 30 other landlocked countries.

In the logistics sector, cargo transportation via land, rail, and waterways remains the most cost-effective method. Efforts to develop railways and other land routes are ongoing. The issue of alternative transport corridors has gained particular urgency since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

This conflict has significantly elevated the importance of the Central Asian Corridor, which links Asia and Europe. Providing access to Europe through China, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey, the corridor has become a crucial route for freight transportation and regional connectivity in Eurasia.

As early as December 16, 2022, the first cargo from Uzbekistan reached Bulgaria through this corridor, passing via Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. That year, Uzbekistan made a major advance not only toward Europe via the Central Asian Corridor but also toward the Indian Ocean, a longstanding strategic goal. A roadmap was signed between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan to construct the 600 km-long Trans-Afghan railway network connecting Termez, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul, and Peshawar by 2022. This project aims to link Uzbekistan directly to the Indian Ocean. Work on this initiative is still underway.

Nonetheless, maritime access remains a pressing challenge for Uzbekistan. For instance, to reach the Persian Gulf, a key route for waterborne cargo, Uzbekistan must transit through Turkmenistan and Iran. Similarly, access to the Indian Ocean requires passage through Afghanistan and Pakistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has appealed to the international community, framing access to the sea as a matter of justice. During his recent visit to Turkmenistan, this issue was a central topic of discussion.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Turkmenistan on a working visit on August 4 at the invitation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. At Turkmenbashi airport, the Uzbek leader was greeted by the national leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the People’s Council, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. They held a meeting later that day. On August 5, the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries convened in the Avaza resort area of Turkmenbashi, with the participation of President Mirziyoyev.

The conference also brought together UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze. The national leader of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, officially welcomed the participants. Discussions focused on strengthening transport connectivity, simplifying trade procedures, driving economic transformation, enhancing resilience to climate change and environmental risks, and achieving sustainable development goals.

On the same day, within the conference framework, Shavkat Mirziyoyev was awarded the Order of Turkmenistan “For Contribution to the Development of Cooperation.” The Uzbek President expressed gratitude to the national leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow for the honor.

“I accept this award as recognition of our joint efforts to strengthen friendship, good neighborliness, mutual trust, and partnership in the Central Asian region,” President Mirziyoyev said.

For reference, the Order “For Contribution to the Development of Cooperation” was established on September 30, 2017. To date, it has been awarded to four foreign statesmen, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has now joined this distinguished group.

Turning to the main event of his visit, the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries was held in the Avaza National Tourism Area and chaired by Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. At the conference, the Uzbek leader highlighted the challenges faced by landlocked countries, noting that geographic distance from seaports and the need to cross multiple countries create several objective obstacles.

“The fundamental issue on the agenda that unites us today is the issue of justice. This is to ensure that landlocked countries have the opportunity to participate in the world economy on equal terms,” said President Mirziyoyev.

According to the World Bank, due to high transport costs and transit instability, Central Asia loses 2 percent of its annual GDP. Logistics costs account for up to 60 percent of the cost of goods in the region, which is several times higher than the global average. In response, the President of Uzbekistan proposed specific measures and initiatives to address these challenges.

He emphasized the need for coordinated action to rapidly develop international transport corridors and infrastructure. In particular, he stressed the importance of accelerating the construction of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway and connecting it to the under-construction China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. The President called for full utilization of the Middle Corridor’s potential through a mutually agreed transit policy, harmonization of regulations, and the introduction of reasonable tariffs for container transport.

President Mirziyoyev also proposed developing a global agreement on “Transit Guarantees” for landlocked countries under the auspices of the United Nations. This agreement would ensure fair conditions for port and transport access, reduce risks in cargo transportation, and decrease inequalities in global logistics. Within the conference framework, he met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Additionally, a trilateral meeting was held between President Mirziyoyev, Turkmenistan’s national leader and Chairman of the People’s Council Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov. The press service of the Uzbek President noted that cooperation opportunities exist primarily in energy, transport and logistics, industry, and agriculture.

This meeting is significant, as several important transport routes connect these three countries. Some of these routes are strategically vital for regional cooperation and international trade development. Notably, the Middle Corridor passes through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea, and Azerbaijan. Cargo is transported from Uzbekistan to the port of Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan, then by ship across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan, and from there by rail to Europe.

In addition to the Middle Corridor, the Lapis Lazuli Corridor connects Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. Uzbekistan can access this corridor indirectly through Afghanistan or Turkmenistan. Thus, Uzbekistan will have several routes to Europe, enhancing not only its economic prospects but also strengthening its geopolitical independence.

These transport corridors are crucial in helping Uzbekistan reduce its dependence on countries that use foreign relations—whether economic, humanitarian, or cultural—as political leverage. Uzbekistan is now making serious efforts to gain access to the sea. Despite being one of only two countries in the world that must cross two state borders to reach the sea, Uzbekistan has preserved its access to waterways. The country’s pragmatic foreign policy in recent years reflects this goal.

For example, when the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, Tashkent was among the first to officially establish normal relations with the new regime in Kabul—a strategic move in hindsight. Afghanistan serves as the gateway for Uzbekistan’s access to a major waterway with extensive opportunities: the Indian Ocean.