Buoyed by Trump's promises, Uzbeks seek closer ties to US

FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the White House in Washington, May 16, 2018. Map of Uzbekistan and neighboring countries. General Motors-branded cars have been popular in Uzbekistan since the late 2000s. UzAuto produces them and maintains a monopoly in the market. The Old City, Bukhara, Uzbekistan, Nov. 25, 2024. (VOA/Navbahor Imamova)

Uzbekistan is expected to push to deepen relations with the United States in the coming year, a position that is broadly popular among Uzbeks across the country, VOA found during a recent reporting trip.