Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev will travel to Washington DC on 3–4 February to take part in the Critical Minerals Ministerial, marking his first official visit to the United States since assuming office in September 2025. On 3 February, he is scheduled to meet with the United States Department of State and representatives of other rare earth element (REE) supplier countries.
Kosherbayev, a career diplomat, previously served as Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Russia, governor of the East Kazakhstan Region, and deputy prime minister, combining diplomatic, regional and executive experience. His visit also includes engagement with Yerzhan Kazykhan, appointed in January as Kazakhstan’s first-ever Special Envoy to the United States, underscoring Astana’s emphasis on high-level engagement with Washington.
The trip follows months of intensified diplomatic and economic contacts between Kazakhstan and the United States. Since November, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and US President Donald Trump have met twice in person and held a phone call, with discussions spanning trade, investment and global forums, including an invitation to the G20 meeting scheduled for December 2026.
Critical minerals have emerged as a central pillar of this renewed engagement. Rare earth elements form a key part of Washington’s supply-chain diversification strategy, and Kazakhstan’s geological potential positions it as a relevant partner. This alignment has already been formalized through a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in critical minerals, signed by Tokayev, aimed at strengthening supply chains and expanding bilateral economic ties.
Investor interest has begun to follow diplomatic signaling. US-backed initiatives and early-stage engagement from investors, including Cove Capital, as well as a letter of interest of up to $900 million from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, point to growing momentum, even as projects remain at an early phase.
Unlike many emerging REE suppliers, Kazakhstan brings an existing industrial base to the table. Its established processing and refining capacity across metals such as uranium, copper, chromium and titanium allows the country to participate across the value chain rather than act solely as a raw-material exporter. Long-standing partnerships with global majors like Chevron and Exxon Mobil further reinforce Kazakhstan’s track record in delivering complex, capital-intensive projects.
Still, translating strategic alignment into functioning supply chains will depend on execution. Regulatory clarity, permitting efficiency and coordination between mining and industrial policy remain key variables. The State Department–hosted meetings during Kosherbayev’s visit represent an initial step from diplomacy toward implementation, as Kazakhstan seeks to position itself as a credible long-term partner in US efforts to diversify rare earth and critical mineral supplies.
