U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards a plane as he departs Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards a plane as he departs Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards a plane as he departs Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken sits with students as he attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken sits with students as he attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with students as he attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with students as he attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with students as he attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with students as he attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with students as he attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with students as he attends an English Language Learning Event at Uzbekistan State World Languages University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Pool via REUTERS 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Pool via REUTERS 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Pool via REUTERS 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Khast-Imam cultural site ensemble in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov walk to a meeting at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov speaks during a meeting with U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov walk to a meeting at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov speaks during a meeting with U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov speaks during a meeting with U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a meeting with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov (not pictured) at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a meeting with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov (not pictured) at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a meeting with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov (not pictured) at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken sits during a meeting with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken sits during a meeting with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken sits during a meeting with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Uzbekistan Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at the National Library in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on March 1, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS 

Vendors sell watermelons on the street in Samarkand, Uzbekistan August 1, 2022. REUTERS/Konstantin Chalabov 

People walk in front of the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa in the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan August 1, 2022. REUTERS/Konstantin Chalabov 

People walk in front of the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa as they leave the Kalyan Mosque in the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan August 1, 2022. REUTERS/Konstantin Chalabov 

A woman walks along the street in the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan August 1, 2022. REUTERS/Konstantin Chalabov 

Trucks burnt during protests are seen during a government-organised press visit in Nukus, capital of the northwestern Karakalpakstan region, Uzbekistan July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov 

An Uzbek service member guards a road during a government-organised press visit in Nukus, capital of the northwestern Karakalpakstan region, Uzbekistan July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov 

Uzbek service members guard a road during a government-organised press visit in Nukus, capital of the northwestern Karakalpakstan region, Uzbekistan July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mukhammadsharif Mamatkulov