Odilbek Manabov provides a comprehensive overview of the key discussions, institutional decisions and strategic priorities presented during the ADB Annual Meeting held in Samarkand from 3 to 6 May 2026. The report situates the meeting within a broader context of geopolitical fragmentation, supply-chain instability and growing demand for regional resilience, highlighting how connectivity, digital infrastructure, energy security and resource mobilisation are becoming central pillars of development policy in Asia and the Pacific. A major focus of the report is the transformation of ADB’s agenda in response to emerging global and regional challenges. Particular attention is given to the expansion of the bank’s lending capacity, the updated energy policy allowing nuclear energy financing, the launch of the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative and the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway Initiative, as well as new approaches to private capital mobilisation. The report shows that ADB is increasingly moving beyond traditional development financing towards a broader role as a facilitator of regional integration, infrastructure connectivity and crisis resilience. The report also gives significant attention to Uzbekistan and Central Asia. It highlights Uzbekistan’s promotion of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the country’s growing role in regional energy connectivity, the development of critical minerals and circular economy policies, and the importance of transport corridors linking Central Asia with South Asia. In this regard, the report frames Uzbekistan not only as the host of the annual meeting, but also as an increasingly active participant in shaping regional infrastructure, energy and logistics agendas. Overall, Manabov’s report presents the 59th ADB Annual Meeting as an important platform where development finance, geopolitics and regional connectivity converged. It demonstrates that issues such as energy transition, critical minerals, digital infrastructure, food security, private investment and transport corridors are no longer purely economic matters, but increasingly strategic components of regional stability and long-term competitiveness. * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

The annual analytical report of the IAIS Center for Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitics presents a comprehensive study of the global energy system’s transformation amid growing geopolitical turbulence and structural shifts in world energy markets. The report combines analytical articles and strategic assessments dedicated to key trends in energy security, international energy diplomacy, and technological competition, with particular emphasis on their significance for the Republic of Uzbekistan. The focus is on the transition of global energy from a model of relative predictability to a state of “permanent crisis” caused by regional conflicts, trade wars, sanctions regimes, and the acceleration of energy transition. The report examines issues such as the impact of Middle Eastern and Latin American crises on oil markets, Europe's dependence on Chinese critical materials, global shifts in the structure of electricity production, and the consequences of the US-China trade and economic confrontation for energy demand. A separate section of materials is devoted to the regional dimension of energy policy: Central Asia and adjacent areas. The analysis covers the significance of the European Union for the region’s energy sustainability, the prospects for energy cooperation between leading global players, and the transformation of cooperation models between Uzbekistan and its closest partners, primarily Turkmenistan. Considerable attention is paid to cybersecurity in the energy sector, the ESG agenda, and risk management in the context of digitalization of energy systems. * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

This flagship annual report by the Center for American Studies compiles a comprehensive set of materials that map the pivotal events and structural shifts shaping the United States in 2025, treating domestic governance changes and foreign-policy recalibration as two sides of the same strategic agenda. It situates these transformations in the context of the inauguration of the 47th President and the intensified implementation of the “America First” doctrine, which, taken together, recast both the internal trajectory of the US state and Washington’s engagement with the international system. A substantial portion of the report is devoted to domestic re-engineering: institutional reorganisation, the politicisation of bureaucratic governance, and the consolidation of a more protectionist fiscal-economic model. The briefs give particular attention to the “One Big Beautiful Act” and the broader move towards “zero migration”, including the scale of deportations and departures, the expansion of detention and border militarisation, and the tightening of fiscal barriers across humanitarian and labour-migration channels. On the strategic and external front, the report traces a clear shift from liberal internationalism towards transactional realism and economic coercion, analysing how this approach is operationalised across key theatres – US–China institutional confrontation (including AI governance), the reconfiguration of Middle East security dynamics, and the growing strategic salience of Central Asia. It also highlights the deepening fusion between the Pentagon and the technology sector (including new institutional mechanisms) and examines the political legitimisation of digital assets and stablecoins as part of a broader effort to secure US technological and financial primacy. * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

This publication by Center for Sustainable Development at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) brings together the Center’s key analytical works produced over the year. The publication follows one central idea: sustainability today is no longer a standalone agenda – it is becoming a foundation for resilience, policy continuity, and strategic stability in a rapidly changing world. The report spans themes ranging from Uzbekistan’s progress toward the 2030 SDGs and the socio-economic role of green transformation to the water-security dimension in Central Asia. It also turns to broader international developments, highlighting how shifts in global governance and partnerships influence the external environment for Uzbekistan and the wider region. By combining development-focused analysis with geopolitical context, the report offers a concise yet multidimensional perspective on how long-term sustainability priorities translate into real-world resilience. * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

An annual analytical report of the Center for Strategic Connectivity at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) provides a comprehensive, policy-oriented assessment of Central Asia’s evolving role as a key transit and connectivity hub linking East and West, North and South. Drawing on analytical articles, research papers, and policy briefs produced by the Center throughout 2025, the report examines the transformation of Central Asia into a more unified transport space, the development of major international corridors, and the region’s growing importance amid global supply chain reconfiguration. It pays particular attention to strategic projects such as the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the Trans-Caspian (Middle Corridor) route, Trans-Afghan transport corridors, and expanding connectivity toward Iran, the South Caucasus, Turkiye, and global markets. The report combines geopolitical analysis with economic and infrastructural perspectives, highlighting both cooperation and competition among Central Asian states, existing bottlenecks in transport integration, and the need for greater coordination in tariffs, digitalization, and regulatory frameworks. Moving beyond strategic visions, it focuses on practical implementation pathways, offering insights relevant to policymakers, transport planners, investors, diplomats, and researchers engaged in Eurasian connectivity and regional integration processes. * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.

This annual analytical report of the Center for Economic Diplomacy at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) provides a comprehensive assessment of Uzbekistan’s external economic environment and internal transformation agenda amid accelerating global fragmentation, geopolitical uncertainty, and technological change. Structured around four interlinked pillars – regional and bilateral trade cooperation, global economic governance and financial architecture, digital and innovation-driven cooperation, and long-term socio-economic transformation, the report analyses Uzbekistan’s positioning within key economic spaces, including ECO, China–Central Asia relations, BRICS frameworks, the Organization of Turkic States, and cooperation with the European Union. Particular attention is devoted to export diversification, WTO accession, alternative financial mechanisms, digitalization, and poverty reduction strategies. Combining quantitative data with institutional and policy analysis, the report is designed for policymakers, economic planners, diplomats, and researchers seeking a strategic understanding of how Uzbekistan can enhance resilience, preserve economic sovereignty, and secure sustainable growth through diversified integration into regional and global markets. * The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.