US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signalled a broader American economic push into Central Asia, telling reporters in Samarkand that companies were preparing to announce new commercial agreements with Uzbekistan. The discussions include possible cooperation on critical minerals, investment and strategic supply chains.
The visit comes as Washington seeks stronger economic ties with Uzbekistan and its neighbours while reducing reliance on highly concentrated sources of materials used in modern industry and technology. It also places renewed attention on the region’s position between major powers, including the United States, China and Russia.
Rubio says business agreements are only the beginning
Speaking during his visit to Uzbekistan, Rubio said US companies were interested in doing business in the country and that concrete announcements could follow meetings involving a large American business delegation.
He said almost 300 US businesses were represented in Samarkand and that discussions could involve agreements worth billions of dollars. However, no final list of deals or confirmed total value had been announced at the time of his remarks. Earlier information from the US State Department had referred to more than 200 business leaders accompanying the trip.
Rubio described the planned agreements as the start of a longer-term relationship rather than the conclusion of a single diplomatic visit. The focus is expected to include commercial partnerships, investment and cooperation between US and Uzbek companies.
Critical minerals are central to the economic discussions
Critical minerals were identified as a potential area for cooperation between the United States and Uzbekistan. These materials are important to sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy technology, electronics and other industries expected to shape future economic competition.
Rubio argued that global supply chains should not depend entirely on one location for essential materials. He said resource-rich countries could benefit from developing deposits and processing capacity responsibly, while importing economies would gain from more diversified supplies.
The potential cooperation could therefore involve more than mineral extraction. Investment in processing, infrastructure, technology and workforce development may also be required if Central Asian countries are to capture more value from their natural resources.
Uzbekistan and other countries in the region have been seeking additional investment and technology for mineral development. At the same time, the United States and European countries have been looking for alternatives to concentrated supply chains, particularly in areas linked to clean technology and strategic manufacturing.
Competition with China, but no demand to choose sides
Rubio presented expanded US involvement as economic competition rather than an attempt to force Central Asian governments to select one international partner over another.
He said Uzbekistan was open to business relationships with different countries and praised its economic development. That approach reflects the region’s established position as a trading and diplomatic crossroads, where governments seek investment from multiple partners while preserving room for manoeuvre.
China remains a major economic actor across Central Asia, while Russia retains historical, political and security links. Increased US engagement is likely to add another layer to the region’s external relationships rather than immediately replace existing partnerships.
The C5+1 framework brings Central Asian governments together
Rubio’s programme in Samarkand includes meetings with Uzbek officials, representatives from the business community and foreign ministers from across Central Asia. The C5+1 format brings together the United States and the five Central Asian republics:
- Uzbekistan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
The schedule includes discussions with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and a ministerial meeting involving the wider C5+1 group. Rubio is also due to meet Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The visit follows a C5+1 summit hosted by US President Donald Trump in Washington in 2025. More than $25 billion in commercial agreements and commitments were announced at that summit, although the commitments covered several countries and were at different stages of implementation.
Ukraine tensions add a security dimension
Rubio’s visit also brought questions about US support for Ukraine and conflicting accounts of intelligence sharing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said intelligence sharing had resumed after a three-day suspension, while Rubio said there had been no pause.
The two accounts had not been reconciled when Rubio spoke. The disagreement comes amid continuing US efforts to encourage negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Rubio acknowledged that Washington’s attempts to help bring the conflict to an end had not advanced as far as the administration wanted. He said the United States would continue examining opportunities for negotiations and urged attention to ending the war.
The issue also intersects with wider debates about sanctions, energy markets and diplomatic pressure. President Trump has defended temporary relief from some measures affecting Russian energy exports, arguing that such steps could support diplomacy, while also criticising the Ukrainian government.
Why the developments matter for Europe
Although the announcements concern US-Uzbek relations, they have wider relevance for European economic and foreign policy. European businesses and governments are also seeking secure access to critical minerals and more resilient supply chains.
Closer US ties with Central Asia could influence investment competition, transport links and future access to resources. It may also encourage European countries to deepen their own engagement with the region through trade, technology partnerships and infrastructure projects.
For Europe, the issue is not limited to commercial access. Central Asia’s location connects markets across Europe and Asia, while instability linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine has increased attention on alternative trade routes and diplomatic relationships.
What happens next?
The immediate next step is to determine which agreements, if any, are formally signed or publicly announced after the meetings in Samarkand. Their value, legal status, financing and implementation timetable will be important in assessing whether the visit produces binding commitments or mainly opens negotiations.
Further work would also be required to develop any critical-minerals partnership, including geological assessment, environmental safeguards, processing capacity, infrastructure and commercial financing.
On Ukraine, the dispute over intelligence sharing remains unresolved in the accounts presented by Washington and Kyiv. The United States has indicated that diplomatic efforts will continue, but no breakthrough was announced during Rubio’s visit.
Conclusion
Rubio’s Uzbekistan visit points to a more sustained US economic presence in Central Asia, with potential agreements on investment and critical minerals at the centre of the agenda. The final significance will depend on whether proposed business discussions become confirmed projects and whether they create durable alternatives in strategic supply chains. For Europe, the developing relationship is important because it may affect access to resources, regional connectivity and the wider balance of economic influence across Central Asia.
