Relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United States of America

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United States of America were established on February 14, 1992. In March of the same year, the US Embassy in Tajikistan (with residence in Kazakhstan) was opened. In 2006, a new building of the US Embassy was built in Dushanbe. The Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Washington has been operating since 2002.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United States of America is Mr. Farrukh Hamralizoda (since 2020). The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Tajikistan is Mr. Manuel Micaller (since 2023).

Relations with the United States are considered one of the priorities of the foreign policy of the Republic of Tajikistan, and сooperation between Tajikistan and the USA is developing in various areas, including political, security, trade and economic, energy, education, health, agriculture, humanitarian and other spheres of mutual interest. Also, the two countries have established beneficial cooperation within the framework of international organizations.

Important global and regional issues, economic and social reforms in Tajikistan, the fight against international terrorism and illegal drug trafficking are among the topics on the agenda of cooperation between Tajikistan and the USA.

High-level official visits and meetings of representatives of Tajikistan and the USA, during which the state of progress of issues on the cooperation agenda of the parties and their prospects are discussed, play an important role in the development of relations between the two countries.

During the first 10 years of diplomatic relations, the political dialogue between Tajikistan and the United States was actively developing due to the official visit of the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon to the United States of America (December 2002), as well as working visits of the Head of the Tajik State to Washington (October 1997 and April 1999). The visits to Tajikistan by U.S. Secretaries of State James Baker III (February 13-14, 1992), Condoleezza Rice (October 13, 2005), Hillary Clinton (October 21-22, 2011) and John Kerry (November 3, 2015) also contributed to the strengthening of political relations between the two countries.

One of the most important political events in the history of Tajik-American relations was that on May 22, 2017, the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, had a fruitful, sincere and constructive meeting with the President of the United States of America, Honorable Donald Trump, on the margins of the Summit of Heads of State of the Arab and Islamic World and the United States of America in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The interest of the U.S. Congress and U.S. Administration in deepening mutually beneficial relations with Tajikistan has been growing in recent years. Thus, on November 23, 2024, Mr. Steve Daines, U.S. Senator from Montana (Republican Party), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, paid a working visit to the capital of Tajikistan. During the visit, the American Senator met with the leadership of the country and the Parliament.

Within the framework of multi-year programs for the Republic of Tajikistan,  the USA contributes to the development of various sectors, especially education, health, rural development, energy, environment, security, ensuring the rule of law and transport and communication.

The legal and contractual basis. To date, the sides have signed 35 documents in the different fields. Of this number, 22 documents are intergovernmental agreements.

The Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABC) between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United States are considered the main bilateral instrument, and during its meetings the areas of cooperation between Tajikistan and the US in political, security, economic, education, health, rural development, energy, environmental protection, humanitarian, human rights, as well as international and regional issues are discussed and exchanged.

Сooperation of Tajikistan with USAID

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) began cooperating with Tajikistan starting from 1992 and through various projects assisted the development of the economy, health, education and agriculture.

The USAID “Food for the Future” program assisted farmers to increase the production of nutrient crops. In the health sector, starting from 2003 USAID supported the Tajikistan’s HIV/AIDS epidemic control program and the National TB Program.

USAID assisted Tajikistan in the implementation of renewable energy sources program and, for example, in cooperation with the Government of Tajikistan,  installed a 600 kilowatt solar power plant in Murgob district.

USAID gave a special attention to the development of education and contributed to the efforts of Tajikistan in the development of the sector. In 2022, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan and the US Agency for International Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the “Learn Together Activity” program.

Cooperation between the cities. On May 8, 1987, the Sister cities Agreement between the cities of Dushanbe and Boulder was signed. In 1997, as a gift from Dushanbe, the construction of a teahouse began in Boulder, a year later the official opening of the Teahouse took place. Boulder, for its part, presented to Dushanbe an Internet cafe “Center of friendship".

Regional cooperation with the USA. The Republic of Tajikistan and the USA are cooperating within the framework of the C5+1 format, which covers relations between the countries of Central Asia and the USA.

Within the C5+1 format, meetings of the Foreign Ministers of the Central Asian countries and the USA are held to discuss important regional issues. The main mechanism for promoting cooperation within this platform is working groups on the economy, energy and environment, and security, whose meetings are held annually.

On September 19, 2023, the status of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and the United States of America was raised to the highest level through the holding of the first Meeting of Heads of State of “Central Asia and the United States of America” in New York City, USA. During the meeting, the heads of state exchanged views on common regional problems, countering modern challenges and threats, developing trade relations, strengthening cooperation in the field of energy and environmental protection, and attracting US investment in priority areas. Following the meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the United States of America, a Joint Declaration was adopted.

The Republic of Tajikistan and the United States also cooperate within the framework of the Agreement on trade and investment between the governments of the United States and the Central Asian states (TIFA), which was signed in Washington on June 1, 2004.

Trade and economic cooperation. The volume of bilateral trade between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United States of America in 2023 amounted to US$ 200 million, which is equivalent to 132% of this indicator of 2022.

US direct investment in the economy of the Republic of Tajikistan from 2014 to 2022 amounted to $485 million.

Over 32 years of cooperation (1992-2023), the United States provided financial and technical assistance to Tajikistan for ensuring sustainable development and implementing its strategic goals.

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