“US offers cooperation without geopolitical choice conditions” - political scientists
Today, Central Asia is in the spotlight of major powers due to its natural resources and international trade routes. Marco Rubio's visit to Samarkand has once again brought the US's political and economic interests in the region to the agenda. According to experts interviewed by Kun.uz, Washington's current cooperation with the region is defined by critical minerals, infrastructure, and investment directions.
“US offers cooperation without geopolitical choice conditions” - political scientists
- Why did US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visit Samarkand?
Shuhrat Rasul:
The C5+1 format was first held in Samarkand on November 1, 2015. In my opinion, the US proposed this format to Central Asian states for two main reasons. Geopolitically, Central Asia is of strategic importance to the US. Located between Russia and China, its geographical position is significant for Washington. Although the Trump administration advanced an updated interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine on the eve of taking office, the US continues to strive to maintain its geopolitical influence worldwide.
Today, international interest in Central Asia is growing, and the region's geopolitical importance is becoming even stronger. After the initial meetings, the C5+1 format became a regular dialogue mechanism. However, the meetings were not held in the same manner every year; during certain periods, there were pauses of several years between them. Following the first meeting in 2015, dialogue was also held in 2016. Later, the meetings continued in 2020, 2021, and 2022, after which another pause was observed.
In February 2025, the leaders of Central Asian states were invited to the US. And in 2026, another meeting is being held with the region's states. I think my colleagues will dwell in more detail on the economic interests of the US. In my opinion, Marco Rubio's visit to Samarkand and the dialogue within the C5+1 framework are precisely connected with these geopolitical and economic interests.
Farhod Karimov:
The US is competing with China not only in Southeast Asia, but also in other regions of the world. In conducting this competition in Eurasia, America's geographical location creates certain difficulties. The US is located far from the region, and its ability to exert direct influence on Eurasia is limited. For this reason, it is important for Washington to strengthen the independence of the region's states and to expand their opportunities to pursue a policy independent of Russia, China, and other major powers.
On the one hand, such an approach corresponds to the interests of the region's states, while on the other hand, it also serves the geopolitical goals of the US. At a time when various crises continue in the world today, the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Central Asia shows that Washington attaches serious importance to relations with the region.
In this context, it is necessary to pay attention to an important aspect that was also emphasized in the US press. Washington offers cooperation to Central Asian states without imposing conditions of geopolitical choice. In establishing relations with major powers, the states of the region often face a certain choice, which the leader of Uzbekistan also previously stated openly