Trump plans to visit Uzbekistan, US special envoy Zampolli says
US President Donald Trump intends to visit Uzbekistan, although no date has been set, his special envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, said in an interview with Uzbekistan 24’s Tahlilnoma programme.
According to Zampolli, Trump personally expressed his intention to travel to the Central Asian country, where Washington has been expanding diplomatic and economic ties.
«The president’s schedule is extremely busy, but he personally told me about his plan to visit your country,» Zampolli said. «One day, this visit will definitely take place. We hope it happens as soon as possible.»
The statement comes ahead of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio‘s planned visit to Samarkand in mid-October for a C5+1 ministerial meeting involving the United States and five Central Asian countries.
Zampolli also described relations between Trump and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as unusually close, highlighting their previous meetings and regular telephone conversations.
«Your president has met our president several times. They have developed a friendly and trusting relationship and speak regularly by telephone. This level of interaction is unique,» he said.
According to the Uzbek presidential press service, Mirziyoyev invited Trump to make an official visit to Uzbekistan at his convenience.
Rubio to bring more than 100 US companies to Samarkand
Rubio is expected to arrive in Samarkand in mid-October with representatives of more than 100 American companies, according to an announcement made on 24 September by Sergio Gor, the US special envoy for South and Central Asia.
Gor described the planned business delegation as historic and said the visit would seek to strengthen Washington’s strategic partnership with Central Asia.
Rubio will participate in a C5+1 ministerial meeting with the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The talks will focus on regional economic connectivity, energy security and cooperation on shared priorities. Rubio is also expected to hold separate meetings with Uzbekistan’s leadership and regional counterparts to discuss trade expansion, private investment and economic modernisation.
Trump and Mirziyoyev expand cooperation
Zampolli said stronger political relations between Trump and Mirziyoyev had helped create opportunities for American businesses in Uzbekistan.
He highlighted cooperation in aviation, including aircraft purchases from Boeing, and expressed support for plans to develop Tashkent into a major regional aviation hub.
The envoy also referred to American agricultural company Cargill, saying its representatives had discussed investments worth approximately $6bn. He did not provide details about the status or timetable of the proposed investment.
During a telephone conversation on 7 August 2026, Trump and Mirziyoyev reviewed bilateral cooperation and discussed ongoing projects in aviation, infrastructure, energy, mining, artificial intelligence and other sectors.
