Marco Rubio to Visit Uzbekistan and Central Asia in 2026

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that he intends to visit Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries in 2026, signalling a renewed diplomatic focus on the region. Speaking ahead of the upcoming C5+1 summit in Washington, Rubio said the visit would likely span a week or longer, covering all five nations.

«I personally intend to visit in the coming year as well. And all five. So I know it’ll probably be a week-long or longer trip. So we’ve got to work on that and make that happen together,» he told delegates.

Summit Aims to Boost Trade and Investment

The C5+1 summit on 6 November will bring together the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Republic with US President Donald Trump. Discussions are expected to focus on trade partnerships and investment cooperation aimed at creating jobs in the United States and supporting economic growth across Central Asia.

Rubio said the region’s natural resources and Washington’s market and technological capabilities create mutual opportunities. He stressed that the economic interests of Central Asia and the United States «are aligned» and that partnership could support long-term development.

A Renewed US Approach to Central Asia

Rubio acknowledged that Washington had not paid sufficient attention to Central Asia over the past decade. He emphasised that the current US administration is committed to strengthening ties both through bilateral channels and the broader C5+1 regional format.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau added that President Trump’s invitation to all five Central Asian leaders demonstrates the White House’s determination to build stronger engagement with the region.

Kursiv also reports that at the same meeting, Senator Jim Risch announced a new bill to remove legacy Jackson–Vanik trade restrictions