US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Uzbekistan on Sunday as Washington seeks to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations with Central Asia despite escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Russia and Ukraine.
Rubio landed in Samarkand to meet officials from the C5+1, a diplomatic forum comprising the United States, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The visit highlights the Trump administration's growing interest in Central Asia, a strategically important region rich in critical minerals and positioned between China, Russia and Iran.
President Donald Trump previously hosted Central Asian leaders at the White House in November 2025, when Kazakhstan agreed to join the Abraham Accords, an initiative aimed at strengthening relations between Israel and Muslim-majority countries.
Rubio's trip comes as the administration faces mounting foreign policy challenges, including the Iran conflict, Saudi Arabia's confrontation with Houthi forces and renewed tensions between Washington and Kyiv.
However, Rubio defended his travel priorities, emphasizing the importance of building long-term diplomatic partnerships rather than focusing exclusively on international crises.
Economic cooperation is expected to dominate discussions in Uzbekistan, with more than 200 business executives accompanying the US delegation. American officials are particularly interested in expanding access to Central Asia's rare earth minerals and other strategic resources.
Greater US engagement could create opportunities across mining, energy, transportation, infrastructure and technology sectors.
Relations with Russia will also feature prominently. Central Asian countries maintain longstanding economic ties with Moscow, raising questions about Washington's approach to Russian sanctions evasion.
The issue has gained significance after Trump recently waived provisions of legislation targeting countries purchasing Russian oil or facilitating sanctions avoidance.
Following Uzbekistan, Rubio will travel to India, where negotiations over a potential US-India trade agreement could reach a breakthrough.
A US official indicated that the proposed agreement was nearly finalized, suggesting an announcement could emerge during the visit.
Rubio is scheduled to meet business leaders in Mumbai and Jamnagar, including Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, whose company supported plans for a Texas refinery earlier this year.
The diplomatic tour, scheduled to conclude Thursday, underscores Washington's efforts to expand commercial partnerships, secure critical mineral supplies and strengthen its strategic influence across Central and South Asia.
