PM Modi’s 36 international honours, at a glance | Graphics

On August 30, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Uzbekistan's highest state honour, the 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order (Order of High Degree Friendship), marking his 36th international award since assuming office in 2014. This prestigious recognition is not merely a ceremonial gesture but a powerful testament to the deepening strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan, a pivotal nation in Central Asia. The award was presented by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during PM Modi's visit to Tashkent, underscoring the high-level political commitment driving bilateral relations. Historically, India's engagement with Central Asia dates back to the ancient Silk Road, but it gained renewed momentum after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, for decades, India's 'Connect Central Asia' policy, announced in 2012, remained largely aspirational due to geographical barriers — primarily the lack of direct land access caused by Pakistan's hostility and instability in Afghanistan. The turning point came with the operationalisation of the Chabahar Port in Iran (2017) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which provided India a viable maritime-land route to Central Asia bypassing Pakistan. Uzbekistan, being a double-landlocked country at the heart of Central Asia, emerged as a natural linchpin for this connectivity vision. The 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order specifically recognises PM Modi's personal diplomacy in elevating India-Uzbekistan ties to a 'Strategic Partnership' in 2018, followed by the signing of over 50 agreements spanning defence, nuclear energy, pharmaceuticals, IT, agriculture, and counter-terrorism. Key stakeholders include the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), and the Ministry of Defence, which coordinate the strategic architecture. Uzbekistan's leadership, particularly President Mirziyoyev — who has pursued an 'Open Doors' foreign policy since 2016 — views India as a reliable, non-hegemonic partner for economic diversification and security cooperation. For India, Uzbekistan is critical for its 'Extended Neighbourhood' policy, which extends the 'Neighbourhood First' doctrine beyond South Asia to include Central Asia, West Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region. This aligns with Article 51 of the Constitution of India, which directs the State to 'promote international peace and security' and 'maintain just and honourable relations between nations.' The partnership also supports India's commitments under the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and regional frameworks like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), where both nations are members and collaborate on counter-terrorism through the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). Economically, bilateral trade — though modest at ~$700 million (2023-24) — is targeted to reach $1 billion by 2030. Indian pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Dr. Reddy's, Lupin) have a strong presence, and Uzbekistan's uranium reserves are vital for India's civil nuclear programme under the 2019 Agreement on Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. Defence cooperation includes joint exercises like 'Dustlik' and Indian training of Uzbek military personnel. Socially, cultural ties are reinforced through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), yoga diplomacy, and the vibrant Indian diaspora. Looking ahead, the award signals a trajectory of deeper integration: potential Indian investment in Uzbekistan's Special Economic Zones (SEZs), collaboration on rare earth minerals for green energy transition, and joint efforts to stabilise Afghanistan — where both share concerns over terrorism and radicalisation. As India assumes a larger global role, including its G20 presidency (2023) and voice in the Global South, Uzbekistan stands as a gateway to Central Asia's vast resources and markets. This honour, therefore, is both a recognition of past achievements and a strategic signal for the future — reinforcing that in 21st-century geopolitics, connectivity is power, and trusted partnerships are the currency of influence.