Our People > Javier M. Piedra

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Javier M Piedra is a financial consultant with over 40 years of work experience in private and public sectors, international development, finance, marketing and advisory across multiple disciplines (corporate and retail banking, SMEs, hedge fund management, credit reporting, restructuring and sovereign and corporate risk management). He is former acting Assistant Administrator for Asia at USAID in President Trump's first administration.

Articles

C5+1 Summit

Daines, Gor, Meredov Launch C5+1 Talks on Next-Gen U.S.–Central Asia Ties

Washington, D.C. — The United States and the five nations of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – marked a decade of partnership on Thursday with an opening panel at the C5+1 Tenth Anniversary Business Conference hosted by the U.S. Department of State. U.S. Senator Steve Daines (Montana), Sergio Gor, the newly appointed U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia and Ambassador to India and Rashid Meredov, Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister kicked things off with a bold forward-looking vision centered on deeper economic cooperation, net two-way investment flows, and a bolstered U.S. commitment to the region. Held at the Kennedy Center’s REACH campus, the session brought together senior U.S. officials, and Central Asian leaders and private sector companies to deepen a decade of growing cooperation, building on Trump’s transactional approach and first term achievements. Celebrating a Decade of Cooperation U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who moderated the session, not only praised the C5+1 platform’s record of achievements since 2015 but went further. He called the anniversary “a momentous occasion for our nations” to move forward in friendship and a sense of pragmatism, anchored in growing commerce, new investments, cultural exchange, and security cooperation. Daines emphasized that relations with the C5 countries are “vitally important for our national security and prosperity,” adding that the event aimed to pave the way for stronger, results-driven partnerships. Turning to the next speaker, Ambassador Sergio Gor, Daines offered unusually personal remarks, describing him as “truly one of the closest confidants of President Trump.” He noted that “Mr. Gor’s nomination demonstrates President Trump and his administration’s commitment to fostering closer ties between all of our nations.” Daines expressed eagerness to work with “Sergio and the rest of President Trump’s team” to build upon the successes of previous US-Central Asian relations. U.S. Envoy Stresses Renewed Engagement In his address, Ambassador Sergio Gor, underscored the administration’s renewed commitment to the region. He recounted that he and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau had visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan just last week, praising the hospitality and partnership shown by both governments. Gor extended his appreciation to Kazakhstan, which he noted had “recently become a sponsor of the Kennedy Center,” and thanked Ambassador Richard Grenell for hosting the forum. Gor emphasized that “this President is making this partnership a top priority,” adding that the focus on the five Central Asian nations “is something that has been ignored in past administrations.” According to Gor, President Trump “has made a commitment and has instructed every individual here within the U.S. government to make sure [Central Asia] gets the priority that it deserves.” He emphasized the need to ramp up energy cooperation, open new trade avenues, and secure supply chains for critical minerals. “We are committed to further developing Central Asia’s vast mineral wealth and advancing critical-mineral security,” Gor underscoring C5+1’s shift from dialogue to deliverables and mutual cooperation. He also previewed the White House leaders’ meeting and dinner scheduled for later in the day, noting that several “historic deals” in commerce...

4 months ago

Uzbek-U.S. Relations

Washington and Tashkent Push for More Trade and Investment

Speaking at the United Nations in New York on September 23, President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan made it clear that he no longer adheres to his predecessors’ post-Soviet policies of isolation and ‘go-it-alone’ economic development strategy - those days are over. Uzbekistan today - or so the evidence suggests - is more open for business than at any time in its history, with the caveat that deals must be win-win, strategic, fair, and reciprocal. Though it’s unclear what that precisely entails, both Washington and Tashkent are clearly working to accelerate capital and trade flows. “[Our] top-priority goal”, Mirziyoyev said at the United Nations, “is to fundamentally transform the lives of each and every family and citizen in our country, to enhance human dignity and wellbeing.” These are not mere words, but stand at the core of Uzbekistan’s efforts to build a new nation on the back of its - until recently - entirely archaic Soviet era socio-economic institutional structures and often ossified old ways of thinking. With this in mind, the main event of Mirziyoyev’s recent New York visit - besides his meeting with President Trump - was the high-level US-Uzbekistan investment roundtable with senior executives of major U.S. corporations and financial institutions. The roundtable was more than just symbolic. Its strong turnout underscored both the U.S. and Uzbek commitment to advancing joint initiatives in key sectors, including strategic minerals, transport infrastructure, energy, and smart agriculture. Top executives from Boeing, Citigroup, BNY Mellon, NASDAQ, Nvidia, Mastercard, Visa, General Motors, Jefferies, Oppenheimer, Cleveland Clinic, Cargill, and other U.S. corporations descended on the meetings in force, clearly eager to court the president and his team. [caption id="attachment_37146" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: president.uz[/caption] At their face-to-face meeting, President Trump personally congratulated Mirziyoyev on the landmark $8 billion Boeing-Uzbekistan Airways deal, projected to generate over 35,000 U.S. jobs – that in itself is not news. Rather, the NY business roundtable appears to have signaled that the American business community is more than just sniffing around for deals. Undoubtedly, a key force behind this growing interest is Washington’s expanding engagement with Uzbekistan. Highlighting Washington’s strategic swing towards Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev, Sergio Gor, U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, and William Kimmitt, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, attended the signing ceremony of bilateral agreements, which ranged from transport, logistics and AI to mining, healthcare, and financial services. Their presence helped move discussions from initial interest to serious dealmaking. To dispel investor uncertainty related to sovereign risk and other hidden booby traps often embedded in cross-border investment agreements, Mirziyoyev declared: “I assure you, I personally guarantee the success of U.S. companies operating in Uzbekistan. At the Ministry of Investments, a dedicated Deputy Minister for U.S. Affairs has been appointed. He will accompany you 24/7.” While this makes plain Uzbekistan’s shift from aid recipient to active economic player, it’s also an attempt to shore up “investor butterflies” who are wary of corruption and shaky legal remedies in the event of contract disputes. Moreover, recognizing that companies...

5 months ago

United Nations

Tokayev Sides with Trump in Criticism of UN After Escalator, Teleprompter, and Audio Failures

As reported by ULYS Media, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly aligned with President Trump’s criticism of the United Nations after the poorly managed 80th-anniversary UNGA session. Tokayev, who was present in the hall during Trump’s speech when the failures occurred, lent particular weight to his comments given his long-standing institutional knowledge of the UN, having served as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (2011–2013) and representing Kazakhstan in various UN forums over his three decades of diplomatic service. During his address to the General Assembly, President Trump recounted a series of technical incidents: an escalator carrying him and First Lady Melania stalled abruptly, nearly causing a fall; his teleprompter failed at the start of his speech, forcing him to improvise—a skill for which he is well known; and the sound system cut out, leaving much of the audience unable to hear him without interpreter earpieces. He condemned the breakdowns as symbolic of broader UN dysfunction, calling them “a REAL DISGRACE” and alleging “triple sabotage.” Trump urged a Secret Service investigation and preservation of security footage. As reported in ULYS Media, Tokayev said: “I consider the incident that occurred at the UN exceptionally dangerous, an event that could have harmed the health of the President and his spouse. The decision to investigate has already been made and is correct.” He went on: “On the other hand, this is the most serious failure, one might even say a collapse, of the UN Secretariat, all employees of the relevant services and departments. To allow such a blunder during the anniversary session of the UN General Assembly is beyond negligence, unless, of course, it is a deliberate sabotage, which is also quite possible given the negative and even depressive sentiments among UN staff.” Tokayev sharpened his critique further, describing the United Nations as suffering a “serious decline” in political effectiveness and managerial competence. He highlighted weakened public trust in the organization’s leadership, an ever more paralyzed Security Council incapable of addressing pressing issues, and an internal culture marked by indifference, fatigue, and low morale—even within the higher decision-making bodies. Tokayev and Trump converge in their sharp criticism of the United Nations, pointing to mismanagement within the Secretariat, the erosion of credibility among its leaders, and the paralysis of the Security Council. Tokayev has even echoed Trump’s remarks approvingly, recognizing their shared view that the organization has drifted into inefficiency and neglect. At the same time, he underscores the urgency of bold reforms to restore the UN’s effectiveness and authority, reinforcing the common ground both leaders have staked out in calling for change. Trump would have welcomed Tokayev’s additional words: “Several of my colleagues have expressed to me an accurate opinion: even the material condition of the UN’s main building [in New York], the common home of humanity, is in a state of decline. And it is hard to argue with President Trump here; he openly spoke about the mismanagement and indifference of the leaders of this global organization.” Tokayev concluded by reiterating...

6 months ago

Book Launch

Book Launch at the U.S. Capitol: New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev

On September 16, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., hosted a book launch at the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill for New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The event drew diplomats, congressional staff, and representatives from companies such as General Motors and Boeing. The keynote address was delivered by Sodyq Safayev, First Deputy Chairperson of Uzbekistan’s Senate. Other speakers included Husan Ermatov, the book’s Uzbek-language editor and advisor to Uzbekistan’s Ishonch newspaper; Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan; Lisa Choate, President and CEO of American Councils; and Elena Son, Executive Director of the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce. Speakers highlighted Uzbekistan’s recent trajectory, noting shifts from a state-controlled economy and limited international engagement (1993–2016) to more market-oriented policies and broader foreign relations (2017–present). They also framed today’s Uzbekistan as shaped by historical experiences and cultural development, which some described as an “Uzbek Renaissance.” According to the speakers, President Mirziyoyev has promoted reforms in areas including governance, socio-economic development, and international outreach. Safayev remarked: “this [book signing] is not just about diplomacy but about shared values, mutual understanding, and a common vision of the future. The book before you, authored by Qudratilla Rafiqov, Uzbek scholar and political scientist, is a chronicle of change, resilience, and hope. The most difficult part of this book is a [description of the] transformation of hearts and minds. Its central message is simple and powerful: the history of Uzbekistan is written by people through their interactions and aspirations. And justice lies at the heart of reform.” By justice, he clarified, he meant fairness—ensuring that citizens have opportunities for family stability, safety, and employment. While the book presents Uzbekistan’s current government agenda in a favorable light, it also introduces new readers to the President’s stated priorities: attracting investment, promoting rule of law and fairness, liberalizing the economy, restructuring social policies, contributing to global peace efforts, and maintaining pragmatic security and foreign policy strategies. Aripov emphasized that the book is “not really about reforms, or about a leader who has been able to initiate and implement large-scale transformation in a very short period of time. It is a testimony to a new era into which Uzbekistan is entering. Today, hopes are rising in Uzbekistan, a sense of national pride is strengthened, and ambitions are being achieved that only recently seemed unattainable. These changes are being felt by ordinary citizens. They see how their lives are improving, how opportunities are expanding, and how confidence in the future is becoming a reality. That is why this book is not only a chronicle of, but also a symbol of faith that Uzbekistan can become one of the centers of sustainable development, openness and cooperation in Eurasia and the wider world. Why do I believe this to be the case? Because, under my President, the country has moved from ‘guarded isolation’ to ‘post-purposeful openness,’ from managing risks to exporting stability, and from ad hoc transactions to rules-based cooperation.” The Uzbek Embassy,...

6 months ago

U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations

Opinion: Gas, Geopolitics, and Realism: U.S.–Turkmenistan Talks Signal Shift

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov wrapped up bilateral consultations last week in Washington, DC. The encounter suggested a new awareness on Washington’s part of Turkmenistan’s pivotal geostrategic location in the heart of Central Asia and its status as a major hub of natural resources. Since becoming head of state in March 2022, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has shifted his country’s foreign policy from one of strategic isolation to what might be called practical realism, whereby priority is given to fair trade and investments that are in line with national interests and long-term development. Like the other Central Asian heads of state, Berdimuhamedov also champions a pragmatic, interest-based foreign policy. Consequently, they find the current, pragmatic U.S. administration with its concern to work out deals (presumably mutually beneficial ones) more congenial than its predecessor, with its penchant for geostrategic maneuvering and ideology. Secretary Rubio recently observed: “A mature foreign policy requires a balancing of interests - that’s a fact.” This way of thinking goes over well in smaller independent states such as Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries, whose key national priorities include establishing their statehood on a firm basis and safeguarding their sovereignty amid the turbulent great power politics being played out in their vicinity. Oil and Gas Over the years, Berdimuhamedov has insisted that foreign entities seeking access to the country’s vast natural gas reserves must play by Ashgabat’s rules. Home to the world’s fourth-largest gas reserves, Turkmenistan invites foreign participation in its energy sector, provided that agreements are structured as win-win arrangements and don’t give suitors the geostrategic upper hand. In this context, it would make sense for Washington to get the word out about two upcoming conferences in Ashgabat: The Turkmenistan Investment Forum, September 18– 19, 2025, which will serve to attract long-term investment into the country's economy, and the 30th Oil & Gas of Turkmenistan – 2025 International Conference & EXPO (OGT 2025) on 22–24 October. Turkmenistan had a strong 2024 in terms of energy, producing 77.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 8.3 million tons of oil. The OGT 2025 will showcase the country’s resource potential and new investment opportunities, focusing on upstream projects such as the Galkynysh gas field and the Caspian blocks, as well as on initiatives in the areas of renewable energy, methane mitigation, and infrastructure modernization. Moreover, Ashgabat wants to expand its Trans-Caspian and north-south economic corridors and complete the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, among other initiatives in transport and logistics. U.S. companies may want to explore these new opportunities. Travel Limitations to the U.S. Ashgabat is working with the U.S. Department of State to lift recently imposed restrictions on Turkmen citizens wishing to travel to the U.S. Both sides are aiming to ensure that applicants are properly screened before a visa is granted and that recipients comply with its terms. To further deepen ties, Washington should view Turkmenistan’s neutrality towards others on the global stage in security and foreign-policy matters not as an obstacle, but as an advantage that facilitates dialogue. While maintaining its advocacy for democratic principles,...

7 months ago