Trump deepens U.S. ties with Central Asia through minerals and trade

A new phase of U.S.–Central Asia cooperation emerged at the White House, with discussions centred on mineral resources, trade, and long-term regional development.

President Donald Trump called critical minerals a key priority as he hosted the leaders of five Central Asian nations at the White House, emphasising his administration’s efforts to expand and secure U.S. supply chains through new global agreements.

The meeting with leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan came as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a resource-rich region. Trump described Central Asia as “an extremely wealthy region,” saying he wanted to make America’s partnership with the five nations stronger.

“One of the key items on our agenda is critical minerals,” he said.

“In recent weeks, my administration has strengthened American economic security by forging agreements with allies and friends across the world to broaden our critical mineral supply chains,” he added.

The talks took place amid intensifying competition for Central Asia’s vast mineral wealth – which includes uranium, copper, gold and rare earths – as Western nations move to diversify supply chains away from Moscow and Beijing.

The U.S. is pursuing new partnerships to secure critical minerals, energy, and overland trade routes that bypass its geopolitical rivals. Trump made his remarks before a dinner with the five leaders.

Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called the meeting “the beginning of a new era of interaction between the United States and Central Asia.” He also announced that Kazakhstan had joined the Abraham Accords, normalising relations with Israel alongside other Muslim-majority nations.

Uzbekistan’s President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, praised Trump as “the president of the world” and proposed establishing a permanent secretariat in Central Asia.

Later that evening, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Uzbekistan planned to purchase and invest more than $100 billion over the next decade in key U.S. sectors, including critical minerals, automotive parts, and aviation.

The meeting was held under the framework of the C5+1 platform, launched in 2015 to bring together the United States and the five Central Asian states to strengthen cooperation on economic, energy and security issues.

As part of the talks, the U.S. and its Central Asian partners were expected to sign memorandums on critical minerals cooperation. Among the business deals announced was an agreement for Boeing to sell up to 37 aircraft to airlines in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and a plan for U.S.-based Cove Capital to mine tungsten in Kazakhstan with government-backed financing.

Gracelin Baskaran, a director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the administration’s approach combined government-to-government engagement with commercial deals aimed at securing U.S. access to vital minerals.

“As China and Russia entrench their control over the region’s mining, processing and infrastructure systems, Washington is seeking to establish a tangible foothold through targeted strategic projects,” she said.

With a combined population of 84 million, the Central Asian states sit atop some of the world’s richest deposits of uranium, copper, gold and rare earths. Their economies continue to balance established trade with Russia and growing partnerships with China, whose infrastructure and mining investments have expanded rapidly across the region.

Kazakhstan, the region’s largest economy, is the world’s leading uranium supplier, producing nearly 40% of global output in 2024, while Uzbekistan ranks among the top five producers. Combined, they account for just over half of the world’s uranium production – a vital resource for U.S. nuclear power, which remains a major source of the country’s electricity. With Russia supplying around 20% of U.S. imported uranium, diversification has become a pressing priority.

Under Trump, the U.S. has pursued a multi-pronged strategy to secure critical minerals and reduce reliance on China, which dominates global supply chains for uranium, rare earths, copper and titanium. Beijing has at times leveraged this dominance by restricting exports, reinforcing Washington’s urgency to build new partnerships.

Trump’s remarks capped a day that underscored Washington’s intent to compete more assertively in Central Asia through trade, investment and strategic cooperation. The White House framed the summit as part of a long-term effort to ensure that the United States remains a key partner for a region increasingly central to the global economy.

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United States Central Asia Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Tajikistan