US President to Host First Summit with Central Asian Leaders - As-Salaam Alaikum
As-salaam alaikum. US President Donald Trump will welcome the five Central Asian leaders in Washington on Thursday for their first joint visit, coming months after separate meetings they held with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping. The West’s interest in this resource-rich region has grown, especially since questions arose about Moscow’s influence after the Ukraine war and as China expands its role.
- A race for influence -
Since the Ukraine conflict, the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have increased contacts with other countries in what some call the “C5+1” approach. Washington and the EU have stepped up diplomacy with these states, which gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 - including a first US-Central Asia summit in 2023. Russia, China, the West and Türkiye are all vying for influence in a region rich in resources. This year has seen visits by the EU’s senior officials, Russia’s leader and China’s leader for summits with the five Central Asian heads. With many regional disputes reduced, these countries have been able to present a more united diplomatic stance. China, bordering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, has promoted itself as a major trade partner and investor in large infrastructure projects. The former Soviet republics still consider Moscow strategically important but have been unsettled by Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Türkiye has leveraged cultural ties to deepen trade and security links as Russia’s attention has been elsewhere. Western engagement dates back to the early 2000s when bases in the region were used during operations in Afghanistan.
- Rich in resources -
The US and EU are drawn to Central Asia’s large but still largely untapped natural wealth as they seek to diversify rare earth supplies and reduce reliance on Beijing. Beyond rare earths, Kazakhstan is the world’s top uranium producer, Uzbekistan has massive gold reserves, and Turkmenistan is rich in natural gas. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are opening new mineral sites. Russia remains active in the energy sector, using Soviet-era pipelines and building nuclear facilities. Central Asia also faces severe environmental challenges and is among the regions hardest hit by climate change, with water shortages affecting all five countries.
- Logistical challenges -
Turning those resources into exportable wealth is difficult given the poverty, remoteness and harsh terrain. The region is almost as large as the EU but has only about 75 million people, and is landlocked with deserts and mountains. It sits between countries with complicated ties to the West - Russia to the north, China to the east, and Iran and Afghanistan to the south. Still, on the historic Silk Road, Central Asia is trying to revive its role as a trading crossroads. The five states have sought partnerships to reduce dependence on Moscow, and both China and the EU back a transport route across the Caspian that connects Central Asia to Europe via the Caucasus, bypassing Russia. Between 2021 and 2024, official figures show a large increase in transport of goods along this corridor.
- Human rights concerns -
For President Trump, who has shown favor toward strongman leaders in the past, economic ties with Central Asia appear to be taking precedence over pushing for democratic reforms in these largely authoritarian states. While the region has opened up somewhat to tourism and foreign investment, rights groups warn civil liberties are worsening. Human Rights Watch has urged the US to make human rights a central part of the summit agenda, noting that participating governments have stepped up efforts to stifle dissent and silence critics. Press freedom rankings put these countries near the bottom, with Turkmenistan among the most closed states, and some governments welcomed past US decisions that limited alternative sources of information in the region.
May Allah grant wisdom to leaders and guide efforts toward justice, stability, and the welfare of the people.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/