Today, Uzbekistan is a country that combines deep-rooted traditions with modern transformation. After gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and remaining under the authoritarian rule of Islam Karimov for many years, the country entered a new era with the assumption of power by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2016. Openness policies, increased religious freedoms and constructive relations with neighboring countries have reshaped Uzbekistan's political identity.
Economically, the country was long dependent on cotton, known as "white gold." However, the tragic shrinkage of the Aral Sea has exposed the ecological cost of this dependence. Today, the economy is diversifying: Natural gas, oil, uranium and gold, along with China's Belt and Road Initiative, trade ties with Russia and TΓΌrkiye's investments are shaping the country's future.
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