Trump hosted Central Asian leaders at the White House.

Trump Hosts Summit at the White House with Central Asian Leaders

President of the United States Donald Trump held a historic summit at the White House with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This summit, organized in the C5+1 format, is seen as a sign of the increasing interest and strategic partnership efforts by the U.S. towards Central Asia.

Emphasis on the Importance of Central Asia

Among the leaders attending the dinner hosted by Trump were Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the competition among major powers over the region’s resources has drawn attention to Trump’s meeting with these leaders. Trump stated, "Former President Joe Biden neglected Central Asia, and I have given the necessary attention to this region."

Energy Agreement with Kazakhstan

Trump announced that Kazakhstan has joined the Abraham Accords and stated that a signing ceremony would take place soon. Furthermore, he mentioned that an energy and rare elements agreement valued at $17 billion has been signed with Kazakhstan.

Emphasis on Developing Regional Resources

The U.S. President emphasized that Central Asia is rich in oil, natural gas, and rare elements, stating, "These countries were once located on the Silk Road, which connected the east and the west, and the historical significance of this route continues to this day."

Trump pledged to strengthen America's partnership with these countries and promised to increase mutual investments. The importance of agreements related to rare elements was highlighted.

Thank You from Tokayev and Mirziyoyev to Trump

Kazakhstan President Tokayev thanked Trump for his "leadership and contributions to peace." Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of revitalizing the C5+1 forum, stating, "Trump plays a significant role in this process with his interest in Central Asia."

The First Summit Took Place in 2023

The C5+1 forum was launched at the level of foreign ministers in 2015 and was elevated to the level of heads of state on September 20, 2023. In this period, where the competition between the U.S. and China with Central Asian countries is intensifying, this summit held under Trump’s leadership offers opportunities for new interactions.

Kazakhstan is the world's largest uranium producer, while Uzbekistan has vast gold reserves. Turkmenistan possesses significant natural gas production fields.