Uzbekistan gained independence at the end of 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union. The landlocked country is a potential Central Asian regional power by virtue of its population, the largest in the region, its substantial energy and other resources, and its location at the heart of regional trade and transport networks. The United States pursued close ties with Uzbekistan following its independence. This book discusses the profiles, foreign relations and human rights of the European country of Uzbekistan.