Rubio seeks to expand Central Asia ties with pomp-filled Uzbekistan visit
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Uzbekistan to meet with leaders from five Central Asian nations, aiming to strengthen U.S. soft power and economic ties. The trip focused on securing access to rare earth minerals and fostering competition against regional powers like China and Russia.
Why it matters
The visit signals a strategic U.S. pivot to Central Asia to counter the influence of geopolitical rivals and secure critical supply chains.
SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan — Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with counterparts from five Central Asian nations in Uzbekistan on Monday, a trip that resulted in relatively minor public deliverables, but which U.S. officials have presented as an opportunity to expand American soft power. Rubio, who arrived in the historic Silk Road city of Samarkand on Sunday night, met in the morning with the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. In the evening, he dined with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and participated in a U.S.-Uzbekistan business council event. The Trump administration has portrayed resource-rich Central Asia — wedged between Russia, Iran and China — as a major geopolitical battleground that deserves more attention than it has received under previous administrations. U.S.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in