HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND MODERN TRANSFORMATION OF UZBEKISTAN’S GEOPOLITICAL POSITION: NATIONAL INTERESTS AND REGIONAL COOPERATION

This article provides a comprehensive examination of the geopolitical position of the Republic of Uzbekistan within the context of its historical development and the transformations occurring in the modern system of international relations. The primary objective of the study is to determine the role of the country’s geostrategic location, its historical traditions of statehood, the evolution of its foreign policy since independence, and its regional cooperation mechanisms in safeguarding national interests. The research employs a range of methodological approaches, including historical-comparative, systemic, institutional, and geopolitical analysis, as well as content analysis of documents and descriptive statistical analysis. The analysis suggests that Uzbekistan’s geopolitical strategy can be categorized into three distinct historical phases: the consolidation of sovereignty during the early period of independence; the establishment of a foreign policy balance; and the shift toward open, pragmatic regional cooperation, which began after 2016. Furthermore, the dynamics of foreign trade turnover from 2010 to 2025 are examined as an empirical indicator reflecting the expansion of the country’s international economic relations. The findings substantiate that Uzbekistan’s geopolitical potential is defined not by its geographical location alone, but rather by strategic autonomy, economic diversification, transport and logistics integration, and regional institutional cooperation. The author proposes a conceptual approach that explains the mechanisms for transforming geographical potential into strategic opportunities.