UZBEKISTAN AND LATIN AMERICA: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY, INSTITUTIONAL VISIBILITY AND SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

Abstract:

This article examines how Uzbekistan can strengthen its public diplomacy and institutional visibility in Latin America despite limited resident diplomatic infrastructure in the region. Drawing on qualitative document analysis, it argues that the distance between Uzbekistan and Latin America is not only geographic, but also institutional, informational and cultural. The findings identify Brazil, Mexico and Argentina as complementary entry points for cooperation in agriculture, education, tourism, logistics, culture and academic exchange. The article concludes that Uzbekistan can build a pragmatic, non-polarized Latin American strategy through digital diplomacy, academic partnerships, tourism promotion, cultural branding and selective sectoral cooperation.

Keywords: Uzbekistan; Latin America; public diplomacy; South-South cooperation; soft power; institutional visibility.