Central Asia has long been integral to U.S. energy security through uranium exports, and that foundation is now expanding into a broader critical minerals partnership agenda. The region holds globally significant deposits that are central to U.S. supply chain diversification. Although capacities vary across states in terms of reserves, mining development, and export infrastructure, their individual and in some cases complementary strengths make Central Asia increasingly strategic to Washington.
The policy environment is shifting. In 2026, Washington launched Project Vault, a U.S. Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve backed by a $10 billion Export-Import Bank loan and approximately $2 billion in private capital to stockpile key materials and reduce supply risk. EXIM has indicated that roughly $100 billion in financing capacity remains available to support U.S. and allied supply chains, including mining, processing, and related infrastructure. For Central Asia and U.S. exporters, this creates a pathway to finance projects that expand mineral production, build processing capacity, and deepen commercial ties in strategic sectors.
