The article examines the rivalry between the United States and the People’s Republic of China in Central Asia and its impact on Uzbekistan’s foreign policy priorities. Political, economic, infrastructural, technological and humanitarian dimensions of great-power competition are analyzed. The research is based on comparative analysis and a structural-functional approach. The study concludes that Uzbekistan pursues a pragmatic multi-vector foreign policy aimed at preserving sovereignty while using external competition as a resource for national development.

United States, China, Central Asia, Uzbekistan, geopolitics, foreign policy, strategic rivalry.

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