Foreign ministers of Central Asia and the United States meet in Samarkand in the C5+1 format

On October 19, foreign ministers of the Central Asian states and the United States are meeting in the Uzbek city of Samarkand in the C5+1 format. The heads of diplomacy of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are taking part; for US Secretary of State Marco Rubio it is the first visit to Central Asia.

Rubio arrived in Samarkand on October 18 and toured the Registan square the following morning, accompanied by Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Uzbek Presidential Administration. A first round of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov is also planned alongside the main meeting.

The agenda covers trade, private investment, energy security, the development of transport and energy links, and cooperation on critical minerals. Building on a memorandum on critical minerals and rare earth supply signed in February this year, the sides aim to turn initiatives into concrete trade deals, investments and production projects.

Rubio said the talks could lead to agreements worth billions of dollars, and that a visit by President Trump to Uzbekistan is something both sides would like to pursue, with dates to be explored next year. Further details are expected once the outcomes are announced.