The meeting focused on prospects for strengthening institutional ties between IICA and the Atlantic Council, including through joint research, expert consultations, publications, roundtables, and events on Central Asia and the broader Eurasian agenda.

Javlon Vakhabov noted that, amid growing U.S. attention to Central Asia, expert dialogue is becoming increasingly important as a way to complement official political engagement with practical analysis, the exchange of ideas, and the development of concrete policy proposals. He emphasized that cooperation between leading think tanks in Uzbekistan and the United States can provide a more durable intellectual and institutional foundation for relations between the two countries.

For his part, Ambassador Herbst underscored the importance of deeper expert engagement with Central Asia and expressed interest in further developing contacts between the Atlantic Council and IICA.

The sides also discussed opportunities to organize joint events in Washington and Tashkent, facilitate expert exchanges, prepare research materials, and create internship opportunities for young researchers. It was emphasized that such formats can contribute to a deeper understanding of Central Asia’s transformation and its role in U.S. engagement with the region.