General Joseph Votel, Commander of U.S. Central Command, visited Tajikistan to meet with senior Tajikistan leaders and U.S. embassy officials here. During his visit, he discussed a wide range of common security issues with President Emomali Rahmon; 1st Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff, General-Major Emomali Sobirzoda; 1st Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security, General-Major Mansurjon Umarov; and 1st Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security and Head of the Main Border Guard Directorate, General-Lieutenant Rajabali Rahmonali, and lauded the continued partnership between the U.S. and Tajikistan militaries.
During the high-level meetings, General Votel stressed the importance of this partnership to support a stable and prosperous Tajikistan. With more than 25 years of working together, the U.S. and Tajikistan can look back on a period of sustained, significant progress that has helped to transform Tajikistan and further cultivate contributions to a stable and prosperous Central Asia. Joint U.S.-Tajikistan military efforts have focused primarily on border security, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics.
With over two decades of United States engagement in Tajikistan, the U.S.-Tajik partnership continues to support security and stability in Central Asia, while improving the lives of Tajik citizens. Since 1992, the United States has provided over $1 billion in programs and humanitarian aid that support Tajikistan’s agriculture, energy and business development, health and education, independent media, and other civil society development.
