The US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, stated that the United States plans to participate more actively in economic competition in Central Asia. This region possesses significant reserves of critical minerals. The statement was made ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to the region, according to the South China Morning Post.
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on October 15, Gor presented the upcoming C5+1 meeting in Samarkand as an opportunity to showcase American innovations and technologies to Central Asian countries. He specified that Rubio will be accompanied by representatives from over 200 American companies interested in exploring cooperation opportunities with regional states.
Gor emphasized that Central Asia holds large reserves of critical minerals whose potential remains untapped. According to him, American firms can provide the necessary solutions and technologies to utilize these resources, while the region's countries seek reliable partners.
The diplomat noted the US desire to 'be able to compete,' without directly naming China, which has considerable influence in the region's mining sector. He also stressed that Central Asian countries are sovereign states and independently determine the directions of international cooperation most beneficial to them.
Rubio is expected to hold meetings with the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in Samarkand. Key discussion topics include strengthening regional economic connectivity and enhancing energy security. According to the US Department of State, the goal of this visit is to promote trade and economic ties between Washington and the countries of the region.
The C5+1 format has been operational since 2015 and serves as the main platform for dialogue between the United States and the five Central Asian countries. Last November, US President Donald Trump hosted regional leaders at the White House during the first summit under this format.
Washington aims to strengthen supply chains and reduce dependence on China, particularly in the areas of clean energy and defense. According to the US Department of Commerce, Central Asia has significant reserves of several critical minerals, including manganese, titanium, and cobalt. These resources are used in the production of electric vehicles, clean energy technologies, and artificial intelligence development.
Meanwhile, China is expanding its economic and political presence in the region. In 2023, Beijing launched a mechanism for holding China-Central Asia summits every two years. The first summit took place in China, and the second was held in Astana last year. The parties are developing cooperation in the fields of security, law enforcement, defense, and renewable energy.
Sergio Gor admitted that Washington previously paid insufficient attention to Central Asia, focusing instead on the Middle East and East Asia. He added that the region's countries are interested in strengthening relations with the United States.
Another sign of Washington's growing interest in the region is the invitation extended to the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to attend the G20 summit scheduled for December in Miami. As reported by the South China Morning Post, this will be the first time that Central Asian leaders have been invited to such a summit in the United States.