Overview
- President Donald Trump met all five Central Asian leaders in Washington, calling the resource‑rich region “extremely wealthy” and elevating critical minerals as a top agenda item.
- Trump announced on social media what he described as a major trade and investment deal with Uzbekistan, claiming nearly $35 billion over three years and more than $100 billion over a decade, a figure that has not been independently verified.
- Kazakhstan said it will join the Abraham Accords, becoming the first country to enter the normalization framework since 2020, according to US officials.
- US and Central Asian officials were expected to sign memoranda on cooperation in minerals and infrastructure, as reporting also cited commercial moves including Boeing aircraft sales and a US‑backed tungsten project in Kazakhstan.
- Rights organizations warned of crackdowns on dissent in participating states, and analysts highlighted long lead times and logistical hurdles that could slow any shift in mineral supply chains.