Uzbek Defense Ministry says stationing of foreign military bases not possible in Uzbekistan

AKIPRESS.COM - U.S. military planners are looking for options to base forces and equipment in Central Asia and the Middle East after American and allied troops leave Afghanistan in the coming months, The Wall Street Journal reported. With withdrawal preparations ramping up, U.S. military commanders want bases for troops, drones, bombers and artillery to shore up the Afghan government, keep the Taliban insurgency in check and monitor other extremists. Options being assessed range from nearby countries to more distant Arab Gulf emirates and Navy ships at sea, U.S. government and military officials said.
Preferable, according to some military and Biden administration officials, would be Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which border Afghanistan and would allow for quick access. But Russia's large military footprint in the region, China's growing one and tensions between them and Washington complicate plans for Central Asian bases, the officials said.
The Defense Ministry of Uzbekistan commented on this report.
The defense policy of Uzbekistan does not allow stationing of foreign military bases and facilities, participation of armed forces in peacekeeping operations and military conflicts abroad, the press service of the Defense Ministry of Uzbekistan told Kun.uz.
The Defense Ministry said media reports after visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Uzbekistan on April 27-28 alleging about possible deployment of Russian troops in Uzbekistan, possible intervention of Uzbekistan into military conflicts of Russia are ungrounded and are not justified.