Svante Cornell moderated the seminar “Reframing Central Asia: Uzbekistan’s Reform Transformation and the Region’s Emerging Strategic Role” organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Stockholm

June 5, 2026: Svante Cornell, ISDP’s Director, moderated the seminar “Reframing Central Asia: Uzbekistan’s Reform Transformation and the Region’s Emerging Strategic Role” organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Stockholm on June 3, 2026.

Featuring keynote remarks by Senator Sodiq Safayev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Uzbekistan, alongside contributions from Director of the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA) Javlon Vakhabov and Johan Engvall, FOI, the seminar explored questions of strategic balancing, connectivity, energy, critical minerals, emerging regional frameworks, and the future of Central Asia-Nordic dialogue.

The seminar focused on relations between Sweden and Uzbekistan and how they could benefit both countries, along with ways in which relations between Sweden and Uzbekistan could be further developed. Central Asia was also discussed, regarding the rapid growth of the region, leading to it no longer having to rely on more powerful countries such as Russia and China.

Welcome remarks were delivered by Rakhmatulla Nurimbetov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Sweden, and Björn Söder, Chairman of the Sweden–Central Asia Friendship Group in the Riksdag.