TASHKENT, December 31. /Dunyo IA/.  Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), Sodik Safoev, has shared his assessments of the outgoing year and outlined the key priorities of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy for the period ahead, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Speaking on the “Davra” podcast aired by the Uzbekistan 24 television channel, dedicated to the achievements of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy in 2025, Sodik Safoev reviewed the year’s outcomes, identifying the Address of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan as a crucial political and analytical reference point. According to him, the Address enabled a comprehensive and intellectually grounded reflection on the year’s progress, while also helping to jointly define strategic priorities for the future.

Particular attention was given to the consistent strengthening of Uzbekistan’s role on the international stage, which Sodik Safoev described as an independent and sustainable foreign policy narrative. Assessing the current international environment, he noted that the present phase is marked by a state of “polycrisis,” in which several large-scale crises unfold simultaneously, accompanied by a growing deficit of trust in international relations.

To illustrate this trend, he cited data indicating that nearly 100 countries worldwide have increased their military expenditures, with total spending reaching approximately USD 2.7 trillion, while economic losses resulting from conflicts and crises are estimated at around USD 19.7 trillion. He also recalled that about 900 million people globally continue to live below the poverty line.

Special emphasis was placed on Central Asia, which, according to Sodik Safoev, has in recent years demonstrated steady progress in strengthening an atmosphere of mutual trust. He stressed that the foreign policy doctrine of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is rooted in the principles of regional unity and the consistent resolution of existing issues among Central Asian states through dialogue and compromise.

Overall, Sodik Safoev’s remarks offered a multi-layered assessment of the outcomes of 2025. On the one hand, they reflected Uzbekistan’s enhanced international standing and proactive role, manifested in regional consolidation, an open foreign policy and the hosting of major international forums. On the other hand, amid rising global instability and a crisis of trust, he underscored the growing importance of regional unity, parliamentary diplomacy, transparency and the development of so-called “intellectual diplomacy” as sustainable pillars of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy.