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C6+1

Opinion: Trump Has Golden Opportunity to Launch C6+1 on Sidelines of UN

Representatives of the five Central Asian states — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan — along with Azerbaijan, are expected in New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September. Historically, meetings between the Central Asian states and the United States – the C5+1 – have taken place on the sidelines of the United Nations. It is the most natural and logistically efficient venue for President Donald Trump to re-engage with the C5 partners he hosted at the White House last November. As of now, only foreign ministers are expected to attend the UNGA. But this could change if Trump extends an invitation to the leaders, according to a Central Asian diplomatic source. This time, however, he has the opportunity to add Azerbaijan, transforming the format into a C6+1. Baku has already been invited to participate as a full member in Central Asian gatherings, and Washington should build on that momentum. Azerbaijan is uniquely positioned: close to both Israel and Turkey – two of America’s most important regional partners – it sits astride one of the most important connectivity corridors linking Europe and Asia. Its inclusion would turn the C5+1 into a genuinely trans‑Caspian framework that reflects the emerging realities of Eurasian integration. The move would also link two major diplomatic achievements of Trump’s second term: the launch of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a 43-km strategic transit corridor connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia, and Trump’s elevation of the C5+1 to a White House-level summit. While TRIPP was discussed at the C5+1 meeting in November, bringing Azerbaijan into the next gathering would allow the administration to present itself as the architect of a new Eurasian trade and energy map. Strategically, a C6+1 format carries significant implications for great-power competition with China. This is because Central Asia is so crucial to Beijing’s grand strategy. In its recently adopted 15th five-year plan, neighborhood diplomacy is listed as the top priority — ahead of relations with major powers or developing countries. Beijing seeks to build a “community with a shared future” with 17 neighboring states, including all five in Central Asia, to “create a favorable external environment” for national rejuvenation, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated. For China, Central Asia is a vital “hinterland” for energy and resource security, and a buffer against maritime disruptions. The United States does not need to dominate the Eurasian Heartland or force Central Asian states to choose between Washington and Beijing. It simply needs to ensure that any Chinese westward access runs through a vast landmass of countries that maintain constructive relations with the United States. A C6+1 format helps shape that environment without confrontation. A stable Middle Corridor – the energy and trade route running through Central Asia, across the Caspian Sea and through Azerbaijan to Turkey and the Mediterranean – also benefits America's energy-hungry allies in Asia, such as Japan and South Korea. Both increasingly look to Kazakhstan as an alternative oil supplier as they...

1 week ago

Chess

Big Names in Chess Praise Sindarov, Now Candidates Frontrunner

The chess world knew Javokhir Sindarov was dangerous heading into the FIDE Candidates Tournament this year, even though he was making his debut at the prestigious event and, at 20 years old, is the youngest of the eight elite contenders. But few people expected the Uzbekistani phenomenon to tear through the field in the first week of the event, racking up five wins and two draws so far in the 14-round tournament. Sindarov has six points out of a possible total of seven, and a 1.5 point lead over second-placed Fabiano Caruana of the United States. He is the strong frontrunner to win the event and earn the right to challenge the current world champion, India’s Gukesh Dommaraju, later this year. Monday was a rest day and there are still seven games to go at the candidates tournament being played this year in Cyprus. But some of the biggest names in chess are in awe over Sindarov’s aggressive, resourceful performance. “Incredible result so far!” former world champion Garry Kasparov said on X on April 3 after Sindarov’s wins over second-ranked Caruana and third-ranked Hikaru Nakamura. “Do not underestimate the boost that confidence plays after a strong start. You trust your instincts more, a positive cycle of intuition and performance. Meanwhile, your opponents doubt themselves against you.” Judit Polgár, often described as the best female chess player of all time, said that Sindarov will be at the top of the game for many years regardless of what happens at this year’s candidates tournament. “He is 20 years old, a fearless player, a genius in management,” said Polgár, who is the subject of a Netflix documentary titled Queen of Chess. “Can he keep calm and stay focused until the very end of the tournament? Will he be able to handle the pressure of being so close to becoming the next World Championship challenger?” Nigel Short of Britain, who rose to third in the world in the late 1980s and is currently FIDE director of chess development, compared Sindarov to a young Boris Spassky, the former world champion from Russia who died in 2025. Sindarov, Short said on Facebook, is “a classical player with an excellent feeling for the initiative, who stays calm and trusts his own judgement in dynamic positions.” Sindarov, who won the 2025 World Cup in Goa, India, was one of Uzbekistan’s youngest national champions in history, achieving that goal at the age of 13. Still, right now, compatriot Nodirbek Abdusattorov is the higher-ranked player. Abdusattorov didn’t qualify for this year’s candidates tournament, though he recently won several consecutive tournaments. Magnus Carlsen of Norway currently doesn’t play in the candidates tournament format even though he is the top-ranked classical chess player in the world. But he is also keeping an eye on Sindarov, saying “nobody” expected such a strong start to the event.

1 week ago

Chess

Beyond the Magnus Selfie: Kazakhstan’s Alua Nurman Climbs the Chess Ranks

Kazakhstani chess player Alua Nurman attracted attention on social media after taking a selfie with top-ranked Magnus Carlsen at a tournament. However, some chess analysts suggest that greater attention should be paid to her recent success on the board. This year, 18-year-old Nurman was awarded the International Master (IM) title by FIDE, the international governing body of chess. She previously held the lower-ranking Woman Grandmaster title. Nurman delivered strong performances at the Prague International Chess Festival in late February and early March, and again at the Agzamov Memorial tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she defeated American grandmaster Brandon Jacobson, whose classical chess rating is about 2,590. Her rating has increased by around 65 points to more than 2,440 as a result of her recent results. The International Master title requires a rating of at least 2,400. “Alua didn't just take a selfie w/ Magnus, she also earned the IM title, had the best tournament performance of her career, got her highest-rated win ever, & became No. 1 in the girls' junior rankings!” Women’s Chess Coverage, a social media account focused on women’s chess, said on X. FIDE defines juniors as players under 20. Nurman is Kazakhstan’s second-ranked female chess player after Bibisara Asaubayeva, who is currently competing in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. The selfie was taken on April 2, just before Nurman and Carlsen played at the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open in Karlsruhe, Germany. Nurman asked for a selfie, and Carlsen obliged. The Kazakhstani player then put her phone in her bag. After a moment, Carlsen got up and told a tournament official that Nurman had a phone, and it was confiscated for the duration of the game. FIDE generally prohibits players from having electronic communication devices during matches because of concerns about cheating. The selfie incident occurred before the start of the match, which the Norwegian won. Nurman was delighted with the experience of playing Carlsen, who is widely considered one of the best chess players of all time. “Dream come true!!” she said on Instagram. It was, Nurman added, a “truly enjoyable game.”

1 week ago

Chess

Uzbekistan’s Sindarov Beats American Nakamura, Stays in Lead at FIDE Candidates

Playing with the black pieces, Javokhir Sindarov defeated Hikaru Nakamura at the FIDE Candidates Tournament on Friday and maintained his lead at the elite chess event underway on the shores of the Mediterranean. The 20-year-old Uzbekistani grandmaster has won four games after five rounds at the tournament near Paphos, Cyprus, in what some commentators have described as the best start seen at the tournament in many years. Sindarov now has 4.5 points, one point ahead of Fabiano Caruana in second place. The winner of the eight-player, 14-round tournament will challenge the current world champion, India’s Gukesh Dommaraju, later this year. Sindarov’s win over Nakamura of the United States came after he defeated Caruana, who is also American, on Wednesday. Nakamura spent about one hour considering one move, and Caruana had also got into time trouble against Sindarov. “Interesting opening choice from Sindarov,” American grandmaster Hans Niemann, who is not playing in the candidates tournament, tweeted during the Sindarov-Nakamura game. “Slight surprise and betting that Hikaru won't have a dangerous counter-surprise prepared. If Sindarov remembers the line, it seems like it will end in a perpetual. Sindarov continues to impress.” In chess, a perpetual is a situation where one player can endlessly check the other player’s king, leading to a draw. Sindarov, however, turned expectations of a perpetual into a victory. Sindarov won the 2025 World Cup in Goa, India, but his wins over Nakamura, ranked second in the world, and third-ranked Caruana indicate that the Uzbekistani is a consistent contender at the very top of men’s chess. After defeating Nakamura, he signed autographs for children at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, where the candidates tournament is being held. While Sindarov is ranked just outside the top ten in classical chess, his performance in Cyprus is expected to boost his ranking. Another player from Uzbekistan, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, has moved up to fourth place in the classical ratings list. Abdusattorov is currently playing in the Freestyle Chess Open in Karlsruhe, Germany. Top-ranked Magnus Carlsen is also playing there.

2 weeks ago

Grain export

Bishkek Seeks Stable Grain Supplies from Astana for Flour Millers

The Kyrgyz government is considering new measures to support the flour milling industry, including intensified negotiations with Kazakhstan to ensure stable grain supplies. Industry representatives, speaking at a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture, said Kyrgyz flour millers are seeking long-term contracts for the supply of Kazakh grain with fixed volumes and prices. Despite an increase in imports, they noted that enterprises continue to face shortages of raw materials. According to industry estimates, processing capacity utilization currently stands at around 50%. Millers also pointed to ongoing problems with illegal grain trade at the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border. The Ministry of Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan said it is conducting negotiations with the Kazakh side, including through diplomatic channels, and expects to secure unimpeded transit of grain and direct deliveries to processing enterprises in the near future. Authorities also plan to provide preferential financing for the construction of grain storage facilities. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, flour exports to Kyrgyzstan increased 1.8 times over the past seven months, rising from 194,000 to 354,000 tons. Kazakhstan attributes this growth to improved logistics. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev has said that logistical challenges between the two countries remain unresolved. He stressed the need to accelerate the digitalization of transport and customs procedures to improve transparency and speed up cargo inspections. He also noted that, in some cases, additional control measures are applied at border crossings, including tax assessments and the confiscation of goods.

2 weeks ago