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.
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The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
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