C5+1 - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 75

Economic Cooperation

Tajikistan and the U.S. Sign Agreements Worth Over $3.2 Billion

On the sidelines of the second Central Asia-U.S. Summit (C5+1) held in Washington, Tajikistan signed a series of agreements with American companies totaling more than $3.2 billion. The deals span the aviation, digital technology, artificial intelligence, energy, and manufacturing sectors. Landmark Agreement with Boeing The largest deal involves Tajik airline Somon Air, which plans to purchase 14 Boeing aircraft and aviation systems valued at $3.2 billion. The U.S. State Department described the agreement as a milestone that will “strengthen confidence in American aerospace technology” and noted it as the most significant aviation contract ever signed between the two countries. The second largest agreement was concluded with U.S. based Transparent Earth. The $32.5 million deal includes remote sensing technologies and technical assistance to improve efficiency in Tajikistan’s mining and agricultural sectors. In the digital sphere, Tajikistan reached an agreement with Starlink to expand satellite internet access. The initiative aims to enhance connectivity in the country’s remote mountainous. regions, facilitating digital inclusion and expanding online services. Artificial Intelligence, Infrastructure, and Industry A separate set of agreements focuses on artificial intelligence. U.S. tech firm Perplexity AI and Tajik startup zypl.ai signed a landmark agreement to develop the world’s first AI-based agent browser tailored for government use. According to the developers, this innovation is designed to boost the efficiency of public administration and solidify Tajikistan’s emerging role in digital governance. Additionally, SuperMicro, Cerebris, and zypl.ai will collaborate on the development of AI-powered data centers. To support this infrastructure, Tajikistan plans to build 1 GW of hydroelectric capacity, laying the groundwork for the country to evolve into a regional IT hub. In the manufacturing sector, Coca-Cola will invest $9 million in expanding its Dushanbe plant, boosting production and strengthening its market position in Tajikistan. According to the U.S. State Department, these agreements are expected to generate thousands of jobs and stimulate “billions of dollars in U.S. exports.” A New Chapter in Tajik-U.S. Relations On November 6, President Emomali Rahmon met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. The two leaders discussed cooperation in critical minerals, digital technology, and aviation modernization, with a particular focus on boosting trade and investment. More than 70 U.S. affiliated companies are currently operating in Tajikistan. The summit also featured a C5+1 business conference, during which Tajikistan showcased its investment projects and export potential to an international audience. Following the forum, President Trump described the gathering as the start of “a wonderful new relationship between the United States and the countries of Central Asia,” and reiterated the strategic importance of the region, stating the U.S. is ready to “actively engage in Eurasia”.

Foreign Affairs

“President of Peace” or “President of the World”? Mirziyoyev’s Interpreter Draws Attention During Comments on Trump

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s remarks at the recent C5+1 summit in Washington drew international attention following a translation error reported in several foreign media outlets. According to his press service, Mirziyoyev told U.S. President Donald Trump that people in Uzbekistan refer to him as a “president of peace,” citing what he described as Trump’s role in helping resolve multiple armed conflicts. However, the simultaneous interpreter rendered the phrase as “president of the world,” leading international media, including Reuters, to report that Mirziyoyev had used that expression. The two leaders had previously met on 23 September at the United Nations headquarters. During that meeting, Mirziyoyev congratulated Trump for contributing to the resolution of “seven conflicts,” specifically mentioning the settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Uzbek news outlet Kun.uz later published a full translation of the conversation in Uzbek. According to that report, Mirziyoyev also stated that Trump was deserving of a Nobel Prize, although this remark was not translated during the meeting. The renewed attention came as Trump announced what he described on Truth Social as an “incredible Trade and Economic Deal” between the United States and Uzbekistan. According to the U.S. president, Uzbekistan has committed to investing and purchasing nearly $35 billion in key American sectors over the next three years, with expected commitments exceeding $100 billion over the next decade. Trump specified that the sectors include critical minerals, aviation, automotive parts, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, chemicals, and information technology. He thanked Mirziyoyev and said Washington looks forward to a “long and productive partnership.” On the same day, Mirziyoyev joined the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan at the C5+1 summit held at the White House and chaired by Trump. During the session, the Uzbek president proposed the creation of a permanent C5+1 Secretariat that would rotate among member states, as well as the establishment of a ministerial coordinating council on investment and trade. He also suggested forming a Central Asian Investment Partnership Fund and a special committee on critical minerals. Additional proposals included collaboration on agricultural technologies, coordination on transport corridors linking Central Asia with the South Caucasus and Europe, and the organization of a cultural heritage exhibition in the United States. Uzbekistan also offered to host the next C5+1 summit in Samarkand.

U.S.-Central Asia Summit

Washington Shifts C5+1 From Diplomacy to Deals

On November 6, 2025, Washington hosted the C5+1 summit, bringing U.S. President Donald Trump together with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The tone shifted from broad diplomacy to deliverable transactions, with officials emphasizing cooperation on critical raw materials. The timing signified a broader shift in supply chains away from China and Russia, and the discussion moved from general diplomacy to transactions that can be tracked and delivered. The private-sector track also accelerated. The B5+1 (“B” for “business”) platform is meant to carry follow-through on minerals, processing, logistics, and services. It complements state-to-state commitments by putting contract-ready work streams and policy dialogue in the same frame. Verification is simple: match U.S. and host-government readouts with company filings and ministry communiqués issued after the summit. Subsequent notices should specify instruments, values, financing, timelines, and the units responsible. What Was Signed Versus What Was Signaled The summit mixed firm orders with preliminary commitments. Uzbekistan Airways converted eight options for the Boeing 787-9 (covered by FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet T00021SE) into a firm order, bringing its total to twenty-two Dreamliners. That flows into the manufacturer’s backlog and starts financing and ground-side preparation. Tajikistan’s Somon Air announced up to four 787-9s and ten 737 MAX; that signals intent, with binding contracts and financing to follow. Engine families for the 787-9 are Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 TEN and GE Genx-1B, setting maintenance and training paths. Air Astana said it had selected up to fifteen 787-9s. Slot allocation and financing are next, along with sale-and-leaseback or operating-lease decisions. A parallel commercial package aimed to show that U.S.–Central Asia ties can move on a near-term clock, framed publicly through the Department of Commerce’s announced “C5+1 Deal Zone,” earmarked at “over $25 billion.” Rare earths and related inputs sat at the center of the talks. Aviation and other signings were presented as tangible outcomes. The substance rests with the underlying company agreements and national approvals, although the packaging usefully aggregates a single narrative for public consumption. Minerals were cast as the strategic core, even though many projects remain in the early stages. Public readouts emphasized supply-chain resilience and competition with China and Russia. For shipments into the European Union, the bottleneck remains the processing limits set by the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. Customs classification uses the Harmonized System (HS), a universal tariff code maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO): tungsten falls under HS 8101, while rare-earth metals and their compounds are under HS 2805 and HS 2846. Bankability likewise depends on recognized industry disclosure rules for reporting mineral resources, which require standardized geology, sampling, and reserve estimates before serious financing proceeds. Wire services likewise underscored rare earths and closer cooperation along the value chain. Country Outcomes Kazakhstan. The most tangible non-aviation item was a tungsten venture at Northern Katpar and Upper Kairakty, with an indicated project scope of around $1.1 billion. A Letter of Interest (LOI) from the U.S. Export–Import Bank (EXIM) suggests a figure near $900 million on a 70/30 structure with...

C5+1 Summit

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Plans Visit to Central Asia in 2026

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday his intention to visit all five Central Asian countries in 2026. Rubio made the statement during a meeting with the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The visit is part of a broader diplomatic initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to strengthen ties with the resource-rich region. Today, the presidents of the five Central Asian republics, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan), Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan), Emomali Rahmon (Tajikistan), Serdar Berdimuhamedov (Turkmenistan), and Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan), are scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington. The summit is expected to focus on cooperation in the extraction of rare earth elements and other natural resources in Central Asia. Rubio emphasized the alignment of U.S. and Central Asian interests in promoting responsible and sustainable development of the extractive sector. “You are seeking to use the resources that God has blessed your countries with to create responsible development and diversify your economies,” he said at a reception hosted by the State Department. “I personally intend to visit in the coming year. All five [countries], so I know it would probably be a week-long trip. So we’ve got to work on that and make that happen together.” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated that the invitation extended to Central Asian leaders is part of President Trump’s personal initiative to deepen engagement with the region. He highlighted broad opportunities for cooperation in business, investment, and strategic partnerships. Also speaking at the reception, Republican Senator James Risch said he intends to introduce legislation to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a Cold War-era law that restricts U.S. trade with non-market economies.

Central Asia-U.S. Summit

Deals, Not Declarations: U.S.–Central Asia Cooperation at Summit Crossroads

A landmark summit between the United States and the five Central Asian republics is scheduled for November 6 in Washington, D.C., bringing together the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It will be the second leaders-level C5+1 meeting with a U.S. president—the first took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in 2023—and the first time the format is hosted in the U.S. capital. The gathering also marks the 10th anniversary of the C5+1 diplomatic platform that connects Central Asia with Washington. The summit comes at a pivotal moment geopolitically; Russia remains consumed by its war in Ukraine, whilst China continues to expand its Belt and Road footprint across Eurasia. As the region’s strategic importance grows, both the United States and the Central Asian states see an opportunity to recalibrate their relationships, each approaching the meeting with distinct priorities and expectations. Washington’s Agenda: Critical Minerals and Connectivity For the United States, this summit is about converting diplomatic engagement into tangible deliverables. Officials want to see results in three main areas: critical minerals, regional connectivity, and security coordination. Congress and the administration view the region’s reserves of antimony, tungsten, uranium, and rare earth elements as essential to securing U.S. supply chains. During his October 2025 visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized expanding cooperation on critical minerals and trade diversification. The Trump administration has prioritized these resources as part of a broader effort to reduce dependence on China. Trade routes are also in focus. The U.S. supports the Middle Corridor, a trans-Caspian route that links Central Asia with the South Caucasus and Europe. Infrastructure investments that bypass Russia are strategically important, and Washington wants to help harmonize customs and logistics to make that corridor more viable. These priorities form part of a wider push to anchor the region in transparent, market-based supply chains that connect Central Asia more directly with Western markets. Kazakhstan: Trade Normalization and Resource Investment Central Asia’s largest economy, Kazakhstan is expected to push for permanent normal trade relations with the U.S. The country still faces Cold War-era restrictions under the Jackson-Vanik amendment – as do Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - with Astana long having viewed its repeal as a key milestone. That push has taken on new importance after Washington imposed a 25% tariff on Kazakh imports in mid-2025 - though Kazakh exports were exempted shortly thereafter - a move viewed by officials in Astana as inconsistent with efforts to expand economic cooperation. Kazakhstan is also looking to the U.S. for support in developing its mineral wealth. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s government is actively mapping new rare earth deposits, and Washington has recently backed a private American bid to reopen Kazakhstan’s long-idle tungsten mine at Upper Kairakty, underscoring growing U.S. interest in Central Asia’s critical minerals sector. The two sides are also expanding industrial ties: in September 2025, Astana signed a $4.2 billion deal with U.S. rail manufacturer Wabtec to modernize Kazakhstan’s locomotive fleet and develop regional transport corridors...

U.S.-Central Asia Summit

Opinion: A Trump Visit to Central Asia Would Deliver Results and Anchor a Corridor Strategy

On November 6, Washington will host the C5+1 leaders’ summit, marking the format’s 10th anniversary and signaling a rare alignment of political attention and regional appetite for concrete outcomes. The date is confirmed by regional and U.S.-focused reporting, with Kazakhstan’s presidency and multiple outlets noting heads-of-state attendance in the U.S. capital. This timing is decisive. Russia’s bandwidth is constrained by the war in Ukraine, China’s trade weight in Central Asia has grown, and European demand for secure inputs and routes has intensified. All these developments together create a window where a visible United States presence can meaningfully alter the deal flow. A visit sequenced off the November C5+1 will attach U.S. political attention to minerals, corridors, and standards that regional governments already prioritize, confirming the conversion of the summit's symbolism into leverage. Washington already has the instruments but has lacked a synchronized presence. Development finance, export credit, and C5+1 working groups exist, yet announcements have too often outpaced commissioning. A targeted tour could unveil named offtakes, corridor slot guarantees, and training compacts. This would move from the dialogue to bankable packages if paired with financing envelopes, posted schedules, and third-party verification. Deals, dates, and delivery would make operational signals clear to partners and competitors alike. Strategic Rationale and Operating Concept The United States has three clear goals. These are to diversify critical minerals away from single-point dependency on China, de-risk trans-Eurasian routes that connect Asian manufacturing to European demand, and reinforce the sovereignty of the states in the region without pressuring them to choose sides in great-power competition over other issues. These imperatives already guide the national-security strategies of Central Asian governments, which implement them according to multi-vector doctrines. A presidential visit that treats minerals, corridors, and standards as a single package would show that Washington is prepared to move forward on the same problem set that the region has defined for itself. The ways to do that are through finance-first diplomacy and an end-to-end corridor approach, including the Caspian crossing. Finance-first diplomacy pairs every political announcement with insurance, offtake letters, and term sheets (short non-binding summaries of key commercial and legal terms for a proposed deal). These signal the intention to convert declarations into commissioning. An end-to-end corridor approach accepts the physical reality that Central Asian outputs move west through Central Asia, across the Caspian Sea, and across the South Caucasus, with Azerbaijan functioning as the hinge that makes Europe reachable at scale. Each element of the “minerals–corridors–standards” triad reinforces the others when the whole is pursued as a single program. Reliable customs and traceability raise corridor credibility, which raises project bankability, which in turn attracts the private capital required for mineral processing. The instrumentalities for this already exist. The C5+1 framework can be tasked to track deliverables; the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) can cover risk and long-term debt; aid and technical programs of the Department of State and Commerce can align standards, procurement integrity, and traceable supply chains; U.S. universities and labs can...