U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan at the White House as Washington looks to secure alternative sources of rare earth metals vital for high-tech industries.
The C5+1 Leaders’ Summit, marking its 10th anniversary, comes as the U.S. seeks to reduce dependence on China, which controls nearly 90 percent of global rare earth processing. The meeting follows a temporary easing of trade tensions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, after Beijing postponed new export restrictions by one year.
Central Asia, home to vast rare earth and uranium reserves, is seen as a key partner in diversifying global supply chains. However, the region requires major foreign investment to fully develop its mineral resources.
In Congress, a bipartisan group of senators has proposed lifting Soviet-era trade restrictions to boost U.S. engagement and investment in the region. «It’s not too late to deepen our cooperation and ensure these countries can decide their own destinies,» said Sen. Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Ahead of the summit, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the regional leaders, calling the talks an «exciting new opportunity» for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Trump’s envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, emphasised that the administration’s goal is to ensure Central Asian partners have «a direct line to the White House» and sustained U.S. attention.
The summit underscores Washington’s renewed push to strengthen its economic and strategic footprint in Central Asia amid rising competition from China and Russia.
