ABSTRACT
The relations between Uzbekistan and the United States were for the most part tense over 25 years, mainly due to deep role incompatibility. The government of Uzbekistan was therefore always in the public spotlight partly because of its relationship with Washington, which in turn meant that any US government was systematically required to justify its Uzbekistani policy and just how much it could or even ought to abide by Tashkent's demands. Karimov's struggle for recognition led to concessions in exchange for greater bilateral cooperation. Despite growing compatibility on the security front, the relationship between Tash-kent and Washington was hardly immune to criticism. Colin Powell was however sceptical and therefore reluctant to allow for that sort of consolidated relationship. Tashkent's disillusionment with the partnership was now public. The prison break in Andijan and the massacre that followed on 13 May 2005 proved to be the final trigger to deteriorating the relationship.
