Rubio and Central Asian ministers agree in Samarkand to deepen trade route and critical minerals cooperation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan agreed on Monday, 19 October, in the Uzbek city of Samarkand to deepen cooperation on transport, critical minerals and security. The meeting took place in the C5+1 format, which brings together the five Central Asian states and the United States. It matters because Washington wants to diversify supplies of minerals used in energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

In a joint statement, participants backed investment in the Trans-Caspian trade route, closer industrial cooperation and simpler customs procedures. The route, also called the Middle Corridor, links Central Asia with European markets via the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and Turkey, bypassing Russia. Rubio said the US would improve the route's infrastructure and give partners more ways to reach American and Central Asian markets. Mineral processing, energy cooperation and cybersecurity were also named as priorities, but the statement did not specify how much new infrastructure funding would be provided.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov proposed cooperation spanning mineral exploration, processing and local industrial clusters. He also urged closer links between the C5+1 diplomatic forum and the B5+1 business platform so that companies can help identify projects.

The US initiative comes as the Central Asian states maintain extensive economic ties with Russia and China. In an interview with Euronews, Rubio said Washington was seeking competition rather than exclusivity and did not want countries to stop working with others.

Bilateral meetings

Rubio also met each of his Central Asian counterparts separately. With Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi he discussed trade, energy, critical minerals and technology. Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry said Rubio expressed interest in visiting the country after the G20 summit in Miami in December, though no date has been set. The US State Department said the talks also covered Kazakhstan's commitment to join the Abraham Accords, a US-backed framework for normalising relations with Israel.

Rubio also met Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev and Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, who raised trade, investment and regional security, according to his ministry. With Turkmenistan's Rashid Meredov, a new round of political consultations is being prepared in Ashgabat in November.

Uzbekistan and the US held the first session of their Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue, covering trade, energy, technology and security. Afterwards Saidov signed the Artemis Accords in Rubio's presence, making Uzbekistan the 77th country to join the international framework for peaceful space exploration.