EAEU Courts Uzbekistan as Tashkent Eyes WTO First

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is actively seeking to expand, with its leadership openly declaring they are eagerly awaiting Uzbekistan’s accession as a full member. While the Russian-led economic bloc boasts growth rates that outpace the global average, Uzbekistan, an observer since 2020, is pursuing a carefully calibrated path, prioritizing its bid for World Trade Organization (WTO) membership before making a final commitment to the EAEU.

During a recent summit in Minsk, both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko highlighted the bloc’s economic achievements. Lukashenko noted that the EAEU’s combined GDP grew by nearly 4.5% last year, exceeding $2.5 trillion, with industrial production and fixed capital investment also showing strong growth. It was Lukashenko who directly addressed Uzbekistan, stating, “You are a long-time friend of the EAEU. You know, we are always waiting for you as a full member of our union. We would be glad to see it.”

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev acknowledged that cooperation with the EAEU is a foreign policy priority, especially amid rising global protectionism. He underscored the tangible benefits, revealing that Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with EAEU countries has surged by 80% over the past four years, totaling $18 billion in 2024. Mirziyoyev called for accelerating integration in key areas, including simplifying trade procedures, harmonizing technical regulations, and developing joint digital platforms for e-commerce, logistics, and labor mobility.

However, experts confirm that Tashkent’s full membership is not imminent. The strategic timeline involves finalizing WTO accession, targeted for 2026, before intensive negotiations on EAEU membership could begin around 2027-2028. According to Bakhtiyor Ergachev, head of the Ma’no Research Initiatives Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan is already working to synchronize its legislation with EAEU standards in technical and phytosanitary controls, demonstrating a balanced approach to its two major integration goals. Stanislav Pritchin of the Russian Academy of Sciences added that in the long term, joining the EAEU is a logical step for Uzbekistan to institutionalize trade with its main partners, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Following the summit, Vladimir Putin addressed the media, touching upon Russia’s geopolitical stance. He stated that Russia’s defense spending constitutes 6.3% of its GDP and that Moscow plans to reduce these expenditures, contrasting this with what he described as NATO’s plans to increase military spending. Putin also commented on potential future relations with the United States, stating he is always open to contacts and knows that Donald Trump has also spoken about the possibility of meetings, which would require careful preparation.