Uzbekistan says security concerns, including Afghanistan, behind joining Trump’s Board of Peace

Uzbekistan has explained its decision to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace, saying the move is closely tied to national and regional security priorities — including concerns linked to developments in Afghanistan and the wider Middle East.

Abdulaziz Kamilov, Presidential Adviser on Foreign Policy, told the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel that Uzbekistan supported the initiative because it believes the Board’s goals align with the country’s foreign policy principles and vital security interests.

Kamilov said one of the key motivations for joining the Board was security — especially the risk that instability and extremist groups from conflict zones in the Middle East could spread into neighboring regions, including Afghanistan and Central Asia. He noted that the presence of extremist organizations grew in Afghanistan after wars in the Middle East, highlighting shared regional threats.

He also mentioned cases where some Uzbek citizens had joined extremist groups abroad and later returned home, creating security challenges. The government’s response — facilitating their reintegration into society and preventing further destabilization — has been praised by the United Nations, he added.

The Board of Peace was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and formally established at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed its charter on January 22.

Originally designed to help resolve the crisis in Gaza, the Board’s scope has expanded to include wider peace and stability efforts. Uzbekistan sees participation as part of a coordinated international approach to conflict resolution and stability promotion involving the United States, Arab and Muslim countries, and Central Asian states.

Kamilov emphasized that Uzbekistan’s involvement also carries symbolic and diplomatic importance, reflecting international trust in Tashkent as a constructive partner on global security issues. He said that stepping into such initiatives demonstrates Uzbekistan’s commitment to peace and regional cooperation.