The C5+1 mechanism, which includes the US, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, was established in 2015 as the main diplomatic platform for the US to strengthen cooperation with countries in the region.

Reviving the C5+1

While historically in the firm grip of Russian influence and recently emerging as major economic and energy partners of China, the Central Asian countries have long been seen by the US as an underexplored yet promising market. The establishment of the C5+1 mechanism a decade ago was a step in Washington’s post–Cold War strategy to make inroads in Central Asia.

In his welcoming remarks to the Central Asian foreign ministers on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the meeting is an opportunity for the C5+1 platform to expand economic and technological – not merely political –cooperation, especially as the national interests of the US and Central Asia are becoming increasingly aligned.

“It's an exciting opportunity in a new era of our relationship in Central Asia. I think it's been about 10 years since there was a gathering of this kind. It's been over a decade, but there's been a little bit of neglect, right? We just haven’t focused on it. So many things going on in the world. We oftentimes spend so much time focused on crises that sometimes we don't spend enough time focused on exciting new opportunities. And that's what exists here now, an exciting new opportunity in which the national interests of our respective countries are aligned,” said Rubio.

A meeting between President Trump and the five Central Asian countries would examine economic, energy, and security issues, the development of transportation corridors, and critical minerals. The US aims to promote the “Central Asia–Caspian–Europe Corridor” and broaden cooperation in digital technology, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence as a new form of “technology diplomacy.”

Several cooperation initiatives were formalized during the summit, including a US-Uzbekistan trade and economic agreement under which Uzbekistan pledged to purchase goods and invest up to 35 billion USD in the US over the next three years and up to 100 billion USD over ten years. Kazakhstan agreed to join the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic pact brokered by the United States to normalize relations between Israel and Arab and Muslim nations. This could be seen as another diplomatic achievement for President Trump, following his success in brokering a Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in early October.

Securing critical mineral supply chains

A key objective of the Trump administration at the C5+1 Summit was access to critical mineral resources, particularly rare earths, as the US seeks to reduce dependence on China’s rare earth supply. Kazakhstan, the largest country in Central Asia, has over 40% of the global uranium supply and supplies 25% of US uranium imports.

Kazakhstan and the American company Cove Capital have been cooperating in a 1.1 billion USD project to establish a rare earth production and processing chain. For the US, this will be a secure supply source and a step toward reinforcing strategic value chains that are independent of China and Russia.

Tajikistan, another country with abundant rare earth and critical mineral reserves, has also drawn Washington’s attention.

“One of the key items on our agenda is critical minerals. In recent weeks, my administration has strengthened American economic security by forging agreements with allies and friends across the world to broaden our critical mineral supply chain,” President Trump said.

Beyond minerals, the US is particularly interested in Central Asia’s place in the Asia-Europe transport network. Currently, about 80% of goods transported between China and Europe pass through Kazakhstan, an emerging alternative to routes through Russia or Iran. By providing financial, technological, and infrastructure support, the US aims to build a secure, sanction-resistant logistics network, and integrate American standards into the region’s transportation and customs systems.

For the five Central Asian countries, President Trump’s move to strengthen the C5+1 framework offers an opportunity to diversify economic, energy, technological, and security cooperation beyond their two traditional partners, Russia and China, and enhance their geoeconomic and geopolitical importance in the region.