How Uzbek-German relations stand under Germany’s new government?

On May 6, Friedrich Merz was officially elected as the new Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the initial round, he received 310 votes, falling short of the required 316 votes for an absolute majority. Following this outcome, a second round of voting was held later the same day. In this second vote, Merz gained 325 votes, securing the position of Chancellor. In response to this development, the German Embassy in Tashkent organized a press conference to inform the media about the political changes in Berlin and their implications for bilateral relations. The ambassador of Germany to Uzbekistan, Manfred Huterer, also attended the event and answered questions from media outlets.

Ambassador Huterer confirmed Chancellor Merz’s move to appoint a new federal cabinet, naming Johann Wadephul as Germany’s new Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs. As one of their first official actions, Chancellor Merz and Minister Wadephul visited Paris and Warsaw to strengthen diplomatic ties with key European partners.

Speaking on the impact of the new German leadership on foreign policy, Ambassador Huterer emphasized that continuity can be expected in many areas, including relations with Uzbekistan and Central Asia. He recalled the positive momentum in recent years, highlighting the visits of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, most recently in Samarkand in September 2024. “Our relations are closer than ever before,” the ambassador noted, “and we intend to deepen our cooperation further — for example, in the field of labor migration.” This raises important question about the future direction of migration policy under Chancellor Merz. Could potential changes in Germany’s domestic migration laws make it more difficult for foreign workers to enter the country?

“None of the political parties in Germany oppose the legal migration of qualified specialists. Many young people in Uzbekistan have great potential and a strong work ethic, which is comparable to that of our own youth. Germany is in need of skilled workers. However, there are specific requirements that must be met in order to work here. A person must have completed education in their field, and their diploma must be recognized in Germany. In addition, they need to have a good command of the German language. At present, Germany has around 300,000 job openings in the healthcare sector and about 80,000 in logistics, especially for truck drivers,” said Ambassador of Germany to Uzbekistan, Manfred Huterer. 

The ambassador also presented key areas of Germany’s cooperation with Uzbekistan, particularly in development, education, and cultural exchange. Since 1992, Germany has been a steady partner in development cooperation, and current German-funded projects in Uzbekistan amount to €700 million. An additional €300 million has been allocated in policy-based loans to support government reforms. Main priorities include sustainable economic growth, healthcare improvement, and vocational education, especially in regional areas.

Ambassador also noted the strong and growing interest in the German language. Today, more than 300,000 people in Uzbekistan are learning German — the highest number in Central Asia. The ambassador emphasized that there are plans to expand German language learning even further, reinforcing the cultural and educational partnership between the two countries.