Kazakhstan’s presidency has confirmed that a Central Asia–United States summit will take place in Washington, D.C., on November 6, bringing together the leaders of the C5+1 format — the United States and the five Central Asian nations: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
According to the press office of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Kazakh leader sent a letter of gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for the invitation to participate in the summit. Tokayev described the initiative as both “timely and important,” emphasizing that he shares Trump’s key domestic and foreign policy principles, including the promotion of traditional values, common sense, and global peace and security.
The upcoming gathering will coincide with the tenth anniversary of the C5+1 diplomatic platform, launched in 2015 to strengthen regional cooperation and deepen U.S.–Central Asia engagement in areas such as energy security, trade, counterterrorism, and sustainable development.
Regional media have confirmed participation from other Central Asian heads of state. Uzbek outlet Gazeta.uz reported that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has received an invitation, while Kyrgyz media stated that President Sadyr Japarov will also attend. Invitations have reportedly been extended to all five Central Asian leaders, according to Azattyq.
The announcement follows recent visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan by U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, underscoring Washington’s renewed diplomatic focus on the region.
President Trump met both Tokayev and Mirziyoyev during the U.N. General Assembly last month in New York, where several multi-billion-dollar business deals were announced. Analysts suggest the upcoming summit aims to counterbalance the influence of Russia and China in Central Asia amid heightened global competition for access to the region’s critical minerals and strategic trade routes.
In an October 20 letter, members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee urged President Trump to host the C5+1 summit before the end of the year. The letter highlighted U.S. strategic interests in developing regional critical mineral supply chains—notably tungsten, antimony, lithium, and rare earth elements—as well as advancing trade liberalization through the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik amendment and bolstering counterterrorism cooperation against the regional branch of the Islamic State group.
The Washington summit is expected to mark a major step in U.S. efforts to strengthen political and economic ties with Central Asia, promote regional resilience, and enhance collaboration in energy, defense, and raw materials security.
