At the summit in Washington, which will take place on November 6 with the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders of Central Asian countries, the key topics of discussion will be rare earth metals. Analysts note that this reciprocal format "C5+1," marking a decade of its existence, will provide the countries of the region with the opportunity to maneuver between the influences of Russia and China while maintaining a multi-vector approach in their foreign policy. This was reported by Azattyk Asia.
In 2013, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a humorous slip when he referred to Kazakhstan as "Kyrzakhstan" in his first public speech, which became a topic of discussion in the media. However, just two years later, in 2015, he successfully visited all five Central Asian countries, establishing a new format for interaction with the region — "C5+1," which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
Initially, the format focused on regular meetings of foreign ministers, which contributed to the development of dialogue and discussion of cooperation issues. In 2023, the first summit at the level of heads of state took place, with the leaders of Central Asian countries and the U.S. president participating. The Biden administration then emphasized political solidarity in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the importance of independence and strengthening ties between the countries of the region.
Experts believe that the upcoming "Central Asia — U.S." meeting under Trump's leadership will be more practical and focused on economic interests. Erika Marat, a professor at the National Defense University in the U.S., notes that under Biden, the main emphasis was on unity and balance, whereas with Trump’s return to the White House, the priority will likely be U.S. benefits.
The news of the "C5+1" summit became known at the end of October when Trump sent invitations to all five countries in the region — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, which were accepted. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his gratitude in a response letter to Trump, especially considering that Kazakhstan has faced increased trade tariffs from the U.S.
At the UN General Assembly in September, the presidents of all Central Asian countries were present; however, discussions about a meeting with Trump did not take place. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the only one who met with Trump at that session, invited him to visit Samarkand, and a month later, Trump organized the summit in Washington.
CENTRAL ISSUE: RARE EARTH ELEMENTS
U.S. interest in the mineral resources of Central Asia has increased following China's introduction of restrictions on the export of rare earth metals in October. Political scientist Muhammad Shamsuddinov believes that issues of access to these critically important resources and countering Chinese influence will be key topics at the upcoming summit.
This is confirmed by recent visits of high-profile American officials to the region, including Special Envoy Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who discussed trade and investment in mineral resources.
New deposits of rare earth metals in Kazakhstan, discovered in April, could potentially make the country the third largest in reserves after China and Brazil. However, as the Atlantic Council analytical center emphasizes, existing obstacles, such as high transportation costs and insufficient infrastructure, may complicate extraction.
BENEFITS FOR CENTRAL ASIA
Alisher Ilkhamov, an expert from the UK, emphasizes that cooperation on the international stage as a unified group of countries can be beneficial for the region. He believes that to maintain their status and increase influence, countries must continue integration and develop ties with the West.
As interest in the summit in Washington grows, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the West of attempting to detach Central Asia from Russia. The meeting in Washington will take place shortly after the "Central Asia — Russia" summit, where Putin emphasized the strategic importance of the region for the Kremlin, but no major agreements were reached.
Central Asian countries are balancing between the interests of Russia, China, and the West. Kazakhstan, in particular, has a visit to Moscow planned after Washington, where Tokayev will meet with Putin to discuss strategic partnerships.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN FOCUS
Before the summit, Human Rights Watch called attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Central Asia, including repression and pressure on the media. HRW's director for Europe and Central Asia, Hugh Williamson, insists that human rights must be at the center of discussions at the upcoming summit.
However, analysts suggest that the issue of human rights may not be as relevant on the agenda, given that the Trump administration had already softened its stance on this issue. Erika Marat also believes that economic interests will take precedence, while issues of human rights and democracy may remain in the shadows.
Just a few weeks before the summit, members of the U.S. Congress urged Trump to hold the "C5+1" meeting, emphasizing that it provides a unique opportunity to deepen cooperation with Central Asia in various areas.
