Trump eyes expanded partnership in Central Asia with G20 invitation

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to attend the G20 summit set to be hosted in Miami next year.

Trump extended the invitation during separate phone conversations with both presidents on Tuesday.

Trump in a post on Truthsocial said the discussions focused on the importance of achieving peace in ongoing conflicts, as well as on expanding trade and cooperation between the United States and the two Central Asian countries.

Kazakhstan’s presidential administration described Trump’s conversation with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as lengthy and substantive.

The Kazakh leader confirmed his commitment to implementing agreements reached during his visit to Washington in November and at the Central Asia-United States summit.

He also addressed wider international issues, stressing the complexity of resolving the conflict in Ukraine, where territorial questions remain central and, in his view, require compromises from all sides in line with realities on the ground.

Tokayev further spoke positively of Trump’s leadership in international diplomacy and in strengthening the United States internally.

The call followed Tokayev’s recent announcement that Kazakhstan plans to join the Abraham Accords, an initiative launched during Trump’s first term to promote closer ties between Israel and countries with Muslim-majority populations.

While largely symbolic, the move reflects Washington’s broader efforts to boost diplomatic and commercial initiatives first set in motion during that period.

Trump’s conversation with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan similarly focused on economic ties and strategic cooperation.

According to the Uzbek president’s press service, the two leaders reviewed the implementation of agreements reached at the highest level and explored new areas for collaboration.

Mirziyoyev noted the growing intensity of political contacts between Tashkent and Washington, particularly at the leadership level, and praised Trump’s approach to international diplomacy.

Uzbekistan’s presidency highlighted several practical mechanisms underpinning this engagement, including the creation of an American Uzbek business and investment council and ongoing work to establish a joint investment fund.

These structures are intended to support a rapidly expanding range of bilateral projects across sectors such as civil aviation, automotive manufacturing, mining, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, chemicals and information technology, with total investment valued at tens of billions of dollars.

Regional cooperation has also gained momentum, with representatives from three Uzbek regions travelling to the United States to develop partnerships with individual states.

Both Central Asian leaders have previously extended invitations for Trump to visit their countries, describing a potential trip as historic.

No sitting U.S. president has ever visited Central Asia, and such a visit would mark a significant moment in relations between Washington and the region.

Since Trump’s return to office, the United States has signalled a renewed commitment to deepening political and economic ties with Central Asia, which it views as strategically important due to its reserves of critical mineral resources.

American interest has intensified amid China’s near-dominant position in the rare earths market and its recent export restrictions on materials essential for high-technology industries.

In this context, the forthcoming G20 summit offers a platform to advance these priorities.

Copied