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Rubio arrives in Samarkand as Washington seeks closer ties with Central Asia
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to participate in the C5+1 ministerial meeting with Central Asian countries, aiming to enhance diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation in the region.
- Rubio is accompanied by over 200 American business leaders, focusing on trade, investment, and economic opportunities, reflecting the visit's strong commercial dimension.
- The C5+1 framework, established in 2015, has expanded to presidential-level meetings, emphasizing trade, investment, and critical minerals, with over $25 billion in commercial agreements announced in 2025.
- Central Asia's rich resources and strategic location offer the US opportunities to diversify critical mineral supply chains and strengthen partnerships in energy, transport, and technology, while regional countries seek investment and market access alongside ties with Russia and China.
- Rubio's visit includes bilateral talks with Uzbekistan on political, trade, and security issues, with heightened security in Samarkand, and will continue with visits to India to discuss trade and energy cooperation.
