U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to visit all five Central Asian countries next year, as President Donald Trump prepares to host their leaders in Washington for talks focused on energy and mineral cooperation.
Rubio made the announcement on Wednesday during a reception at the State Department, part of a broader Trump administration initiative to deepen ties with the resource-rich region, adding the visits could be during a week-long regional tour.
The upcoming meeting in Washington will bring together the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan for discussions expected to focus on rare earths and other strategic resources.
Rubio said U.S. and Central Asian interests are aligned in developing the nations’ vast natural wealth.
"You are looking to take the resources ... that God has blessed your nations with, and turn them into responsible development that allow you to diversify your economies," he said.
Building momentum for economic partnerships
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau noted that Trump’s invitation to the five leaders reflected the president’s personal effort to strengthen U.S. engagement in Central Asia. Landau and Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador to India and Trump’s special envoy to Central Asia, travelled to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan last week to prepare agreements to be unveiled during the leaders’ visit.
“The opportunities are amazing - business opportunities. Many ways to partner there,” Landau said, emphasising prospects in energy, infrastructure, and trade.
The five Central Asian countries have long maintained close economic relations with both Russia and China, shaped by geography, trade, and infrastructure ties. Moscow remains a major destination for labour migration and energy exports, while Beijing has invested heavily in transport corridors and industrial projects through its Belt and Road Initiative.
The United States is now seeking to expand its engagement with the region, focusing on critical minerals, energy cooperation, and economic diversification. Officials describe the effort as a step toward balanced and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Republican Senator James Risch, who also spoke at the event, said he would introduce a bill this week to repeal the Cold War-era Jackson–Vanik amendment, which restricts U.S. trade with non-market economies. The move could pave the way for stronger economic engagement with Central Asian countries as Washington seeks new partners in a shifting global trade landscape.
The foreign ministers of the G7 group of nations on Friday called for an immediate stop to attacks against civi...
After U.S. President Donald Trump said he would pause attacks on Iran’s ...
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced doubts about the effectiveness of the U.S. and Israeli military campaign in Iran, warning that the conf...
G7 foreign ministers have condemned attacks on civilians in the Iran war and demanded the free and safe passage of sh...
Turkish military personnel participating in NATO’s mission in Iraq have been “successfully” withdrawn from the country, the Turki...
Uzbekistan is pursuing a dual-track development strategy, combining the expansion of its energy sector with an ambitious environmental agenda, as new oil and gas projects on the Ustyurt Plateau progress alongside large-scale greening initiatives.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has pledged to intensify the country's fight against corruption, declaring that graft is "worse than murder" and warning that even his closest relatives would face punishment if found guilty.
Pakistan’s declaration of an “open war” with Afghanistan must be understood in the context of months of escalating violence, regional analysts have said, describing the latest developments as a significant shift in the nature of the conflict.
The foreign ministers of the G7 group of nations on Friday called for an immediate stop to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Iran war.
Northern European countries must significantly boost military drone production to help Ukraine defeat Russia, Latvia’s Prime Minister has said, warning that victory would be “impossible” without greater support.
A marine drone struck a Turkish crude oil tanker that had departed Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul's Bosphorus strait on Thursday, Türkiye's transportation minister said.
The United Nations has adopted a resolution to recognise transatlantic slavery as the "gravest crime against humanity" despite resistance from Europe and the United States. Ghana proposed it at the United Nations on Wednesday calling for reparations.
Petrol price spikes triggered by the war in Iran are boosting used electric vehicle sales across Europe, online car platforms told Reuters, in an early sign that pain at the pump is pushing consumers away from combustion engines.
AnewZ has released the official trailer for its upcoming original documentary, Halfway Across, an investigation into the systems behind illegal migration.
Hamas would have to allow its vast network of tunnels in Gaza to be destroyed as it gives up its weapons over eight months, under a disarmament plan drawn up by the U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
Georgia’s ambitions to position itself as a key bridge between Europe and Asia are gaining renewed attention, following a visit by senior U.S. officials and fresh talks on economic cooperation.
Uzbekistan is pursuing a dual-track development strategy, combining the expansion of its energy sector with an ambitious environmental agenda, as new oil and gas projects on the Ustyurt Plateau progress alongside large-scale greening initiatives.
Former rapper turned politician Balendra Shah, was sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister on Friday, becoming the youngest leader in decades and the first Madhesi - from the southern plains bordering India - to hold the country’s top office.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment