Bilateral Relations with the United Kingdom

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and Great Britain were established on January 15, 1992.

On February 11, 2008 the Embassy of Tajikistan was opened in London.

Since December 15, 2021, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Kingdom is Rukhshona Emomali.

On December 20, 2001 the UK opened its Embassy in Dushanbe.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Tajikistan is Catherine Smitton (since 01.10.2024). She presented her credentials to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan on January 31, 2025.

On January 1, 2022, an exchange of congratulatory telegrams took place between the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Boris Johnson, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Political Cooperation

Since 2002, there has been an exchange of official visits at the level of high-ranking representatives of both sides.

On April 22, at the Palace of the Nation, the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon received the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, who visited Tajikistan on his Central Asian tour.

During the meeting, issues of cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom were discussed in the political, economic, commercial, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

David Cameron, in his turn, expressed satisfaction with the significant expansion of multifaceted relations between Tajikistan and Great Britain and its good prospects.

It was considered necessary to attract investments of the Kingdom to the mining, metallurgical, light, food, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors of Tajikistan.

The parties also expressed interest in the development of cooperation in the direction of the production of "green energy", the transition to the "green economy" and the implementation of projects related to the promotion of the "digital economy".

Other key topics of the meeting included water and climate challenges, labor migration, and diversification of air routes between the two countries.

On April 22, 2024 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, also met with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, Lord David Cameron. During the meeting, an intergovernmental agreement between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom on air transport was signed, providing a legal framework for the regulation of direct flights between Dushanbe and London.

It is worth noting that this was the first visit of a British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs to Tajikistan in the history of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The legal framework of relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is in the process of formation and development. Currently, the legal basis of relations includes more than six bilateral agreements in various fields, including economy, trade, investment, and the avoidance of double taxation.

Interparliamentary Cooperation

Another important aspect of bilateral political relations is the expansion of interparliamentary ties between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom. The UK Parliament plays a key role in shaping the country’s domestic and foreign policy and the development of cooperation in this area is in the interests of both parties.

To date, several reciprocal visits of parliamentary delegations from both countries have taken place.

Economic Cooperation

Cooperation between the two countries is also gradually expanding in the economic sphere. Economic cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom is mainly based on the activities of the Regional Office of the former United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) (now part of the UK Foreign Office) for Central Asia.

According to the Agency for Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the total trade turnover between the two countries in 2024 exceeded 12 million US dollars.

On January 31, 2020, in London, the UK Department for International Trade organized an event dedicated to presenting investment opportunities in Central Asian countries, including the Republic of Tajikistan, to the British business community. The event, titled "Eastern Europe and Central Asia Trade Opportunities," was aimed at discussing opportunities for developing cooperation in investment and trade between Central Asian business circles and the United Kingdom. More than 200 participants attended, including representatives of the diplomatic corps, embassies of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of British ministries, investment companies, and the private sector.

On September 9, 2019, the Tajik-British Chamber of Commerce (TBCC) was established to promote the strengthening and expansion of economic and trade cooperation, as well as to attract foreign investment.

on March 28–29, 2023, the Tajikistan Investment and Development Forum took place in London initiated by the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the United Kingdom and supported by the Government of Tajikistan. The event brought together over 250 participants, including high-ranking officials from Tajikistan’s ministries and agencies, prominent entrepreneurs, investors, and representatives from leading global companies, fostering discussions on investment opportunities and economic collaboration.

Military Cooperation

Military cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom is carried out within the framework of training programs and joint military exercises, as well as through the exchange of experience in countering security threats, participation in peacekeeping operations, and English language training.

13.03.2025