Key facts
- Rubio met with counterparts from five Central Asian nations in Uzbekistan.
- The visit aims to expand US soft power and secure access to rare earth minerals.
- Uzbekistan signed the Artemis Accords, a US-led agreement on space exploration.
- Kazakhstan joined the Abraham Accords in November.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with foreign ministers from five Central Asian nations in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Monday, a trip aimed at expanding American influence and securing access to the region's rare earth minerals. Rubio, who arrived Sunday, met with the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. He was also scheduled to meet with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and attend a US-Uzbekistan business council event. The visit occurs as the US faces complex geopolitical challenges, including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East. Rubio defended the trip, stating that foreign travel should focus on building long-term relationships rather than solely addressing immediate crises. During the visit, Uzbekistan signed the Artemis Accords, a US-led agreement on space exploration, and Kazakhstan's earlier decision to join the Abraham Accords was noted as a deepening of ties with Washington.