The five nations of Central Asia, seeking to revive their ancient role as a global logistics hub, are set to meet with the US president in Washington next week. The summit is reportedly scheduled for November 6.
This meeting, confirmed by leaders from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, is part of a coordinated effort by the Central Asian states to boost their economic prospects. They aim to become a key corridor for East-West trade.
The timing is critical. With Russia’s influence in the region being questioned post-Ukraine, a diplomatic space has opened. The US, China, and the EU have all stepped in with high-level talks, seeking to secure their own interests.
The region is not only a potential trade route but is also home to significant natural resources, from hydrocarbons to rare earth minerals, making it highly attractive to global powers.
This upcoming US summit follows similar gatherings hosted by Russia, China, and the EU earlier in the year, placing Central Asia at the very center of a new wave of global diplomacy and economic competition.