Rubio’s visit to Central Asia boosts trade ties
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led an almost 300-strong American business delegation to Samarkand, where on October 19 he held talks with foreign ministers from all five Central Asian states. Uzbek media, citing the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, reported at least 54 business deals worth $12 billion in areas including industry, transport and energy infrastructure, critical minerals, finance, digital technologies, agriculture, healthcare and education. A joint statement by the participating foreign ministers outlined intentions to strengthen US-Central Asian ties and envisioned expanded opportunities for mineral extraction, while not specifically referencing artificial intelligence or critical minerals.
Why it matters: The visit and deals show US-China competition in Central Asia being conducted through trade and investment, with China’s larger trade volume setting the baseline.