C5 1 News Today

It is promising that the CMD met just months after it was announced, seeming to indicate that all involved are serious about scaling up Central Asia’s role in global critical mineral supply chains.

It’s been a busy year for Central Asia, with numerous Western diplomats swinging through the region or welcoming Central Asian delegations in their own capitals.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu heads to Uzbekistan and India next. 

USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced an additional $14.3 million in regional programing, plus $18.7 million to boost collaboration in Uzbekistan, specifically.

Washington’s current approach sidesteps human rights concerns. Central Asian’s rights defenders and civic activists have suggestions to fix that.

Biden met with Central Asian presidents on the sidelines of UNGA to discuss security, economic cooperation, and critical minerals. 

Biden stressed on territorial integrity when he met the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

An upcoming meeting between Biden and Central Asian presidents presents a foreign-policy opportunity.

Russian and Chinese influence in the region will never go away. But the United States now has a rare and valuable window of opportunity.

Uzbekistan is a bedrock U.S. partner in a dynamic region.