Washington: US President Donald Trump is set to host the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in Washington on Thursday. This marks the first summit with all five Central Asian nations, occurring a few months after their separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the West has significantly increased its engagement with the region rich in resources. The traditional influence of Moscow has been challenged since the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, while China remains a key player as well. The summit underscores the ongoing global race for influence in Central Asia, as countries like Russia, China, the West, and Turkey vie for strategic partnerships in the area.
In response to the Ukraine conflict, Central Asian leaders have been enhancing their international collaborations under the “C5+1” format. This has led to increased diplomatic activities from Washington and the European Union with these landlocked nations, which gained their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Notably, 2023 saw the first US-Central Asia summit, signaling a renewed focus from the West.
The resource-rich region of Central Asia draws attention for its largely untapped natural resources, which are crucial for diversifying rare earth supplies and reducing dependency on Beijing. Kazakhstan, for instance, is the leading uranium producer globally, Uzbekistan holds vast gold reserves, and Turkmenistan is rich in gas. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are opening new mineral deposits.
Despite these resources, the logistical challenges of exploiting them are significant. Central Asia, almost as large as the EU but with a population of only 75 million, is landlocked and characterized by harsh terrains. However, the region is striving to revive its historical role as a trading hub along the Silk Road and is exploring partnerships to lessen its dependence on Moscow.
The development of a transport route across the Caspian Sea, supported by both Beijing and Brussels, allows Central Asia to connect with Europe through the Caucasus, effectively bypassing Russia. Notably, transport of goods via this route has surged by 660 percent between 2021 and 2024, according to official statistics.
However, the summit is not without controversy. Economic cooperation is prioritized over democratic values in these authoritarian countries, with rights groups raising concerns over civil liberties. Human Rights Watch has urged the US to emphasize human rights discussions during the summit, highlighting increased suppression of dissent and media in the region. Central Asian countries rank poorly on press freedom indexes, with Turkmenistan among the most secretive states globally. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan supported Trump’s decision to dismantle Radio Free Europe, which was among the last independent media outlets in the region.