US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sunday evening to attend a ministerial meeting under the C5+1 format. This diplomatic framework brings together the United States and five Central Asian nations: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The visit aims to bolster diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation across the region.
Beyond the multilateral ministerial talks, Rubio is scheduled to conduct bilateral discussions with senior officials from each of the five participating countries. A significant component of the visit is commercial in nature, with the US State Department confirming that Rubio is accompanied by a delegation of more than 200 American business leaders. Discussions are expected to center on opportunities for investment, trade, and economic partnership.
Before departing Washington, Rubio defended the timing of the trip despite ongoing international crises. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday, he characterized the relationship with these countries as important, noting that the timing was specifically coordinated to ensure the foreign ministers of all five Central Asian states could be present. He suggested that while diplomatic efforts often focus on immediate crises, it remains vital to pursue strategic business and relationship-building in other regions.
The C5+1 framework was originally established in Samarkand in November 2015 by then-Secretary of State John Kerry. The dialogue has since evolved to the presidential level, with summits hosted by Donald Trump in November 2025 and Joe Biden in 2023. The most recent Washington summit prioritized critical minerals, investment, and trade. According to the US Department of Commerce, that 2025 meeting resulted in the announcement of over $25bn in commercial agreements and commitments spanning aviation, railway infrastructure, agricultural equipment, and mineral development.
Central Asia possesses substantial resources in oil, natural gas, and uranium, as well as other minerals essential for manufacturing and energy systems. The region remains a strategic focus, with the European Union also pursuing economic ties through a €12bn Global Gateway investment package announced in Samarkand in April 2025. The American delegation currently in Uzbekistan includes representatives from firms such as Citibank, Boeing, and Franklin Templeton, alongside officials from development finance and export credit institutions.
Security cooperation is also on the agenda, with US officials identifying counterterrorism as a key area for collaboration. On Monday, Rubio will participate in the first round of an expanded strategic partnership dialogue with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov. According to the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, the talks will address political relations, trade, and international developments.
Preparations for the visit were reviewed on October 16 by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor. President Mirziyoyev is set to attend a meeting of the Uzbekistan–US Business and Investment Council on Monday alongside Rubio. The Council, co-chaired by Saida Mirziyoyeva and Sergio Gor, focuses on joint projects and commercial partnerships. To accommodate the visit, the Uzbek Interior Ministry has implemented temporary traffic restrictions in Samarkand from 18 to 22 October. Following his Uzbekistan itinerary, Rubio will travel to India for discussions in Mumbai and Jamnagar before concluding his tour on Thursday.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are among Washington's main economic partners in the region. According to US government figures, bilateral trade in goods and services reached $7.1bn (approxiametely €6.3bn) with Kazakhstan and $1.7bn (€1.5bn) with Uzbekistan in 2025, while American companies have also announced agreements cov
