Trump Targets Central Asian Minerals
US President Donald Trump made critical minerals a top priority when hosting leaders of five Central Asian countries at the White House on Thursday. He emphasized expanding and securing US supply chains through new global agreements, calling Central Asia a “very rich” region and affirming his intention to strengthen partnerships with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
This move comes amid intense competition for the region’s mineral wealth—from uranium and copper to gold and rare earths—as Western nations seek to diversify supply chains away from Russia and China. Washington is pushing for new partnerships to secure critical minerals, energy, and land trade routes that bypass its geopolitical rivals.
Regional leaders welcomed the signal. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the meeting the beginning of a “new era” of US-Central Asia engagement, while Uzbekistan announced plans to invest more than $100 billion in key US sectors over the next decade, including critical minerals, automotive parts, and aviation. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also proposed the establishment of a permanent secretariat in Central Asia.
The C5+1 Forum, launched in 2015—which brings together the US and five Central Asian countries for economic, energy, and security cooperation—served as the diplomatic umbrella for this meeting. With a renewed focus on critical minerals and strategic supply chains, Washington aims to accelerate supply independence while expanding its influence in a region previously dominated by other powers. (az)
Source: Newsmaker.id
