As global power centers realign, Washington’s engagement with Central Asia has taken on a sharper, more transactional tone. The Trump administration is prioritizing energy security, resource access, and countering Chinese influence over climate diplomacy or democratic reform. Rare earths and critical minerals remain central as strategic assets in this new age of resource competition.
At the C5+1 summit, discussions are likely to focus on trade, extraction rights, and infrastructure deals. For Washington, Central Asia offers leverage in its broader rivalry with Beijing and Moscow. For regional leaders, it is a chance to strike pragmatic bargains with a White House that values deals over doctrines.
