US seeks stronger trade, energy and critical minerals ties with Central Asia
Photo from FB@MarcoRubio
Photo from FB@MarcoRubio
The US plans to expand trade and investment with Central Asian countries, strengthen energy cooperation and develop critical mineral supply chains, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a ministerial meeting held recently in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Based on a report by Anadolu Agency, Washington also plans to develop integrated supply chains for critical minerals and train thousands of young professionals to use and maintain advanced US technologies in the region’s growing technology sector.
Rubio said the US would improve infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian trade route to give its partners better access to American and Central Asian markets. He described Central Asia as a historic trade crossroads between Europe and Asia, with renewed potential to contribute to international commerce. Washington also aims to secure its critical industries and supply chains by reducing dependence on potentially unreliable foreign partners, while promoting the prosperity and independence of Central Asian states.
The meeting, held under the C5+1 format, brings together the US and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Rubio said last year’s C5+1 summit at the White House generated US$25 billion in new deals covering transport, energy and finance, with this week’s discussions intended to build on those commitments and expand economic cooperation. He stressed that Washington was not seeking to make Uzbekistan choose between the US, Russia and China, but wanted American companies to compete fairly and gain greater market access.
Nearly 300 US business representatives travelled to Uzbekistan with Rubio, who was also scheduled to attend the second meeting of the US-Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council. Rubio said Washington would work next year to determine possible dates for a visit to Uzbekistan by US President Donald Trump, who has previously expressed interest in visiting the country. He also confirmed his interest in visiting Kazakhstan soon after the G20 summit scheduled for in December in Doral, Florida, according to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry. The prospective visit was discussed during a meeting between Rubio and Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi in Samarkand, the ministry said. The talks come as Washington seeks to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with resource-rich Central Asia, with trade, investment, energy and critical minerals among the main areas of cooperation.
