Marco Rubio Launches Strategic Partnership Dialogue in Uzbekistan

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with foreign ministers from Central Asian nations in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on October 19 to advance regional security and economic ties. During the visit, Rubio and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov launched the Uzbekistan-US Expanded Strategic Partnership Dialogue. This initiative implements prior agreements between President Donald Trump and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, focusing on trade, investment, and advanced technologies.

As part of these talks, Uzbekistan became the 77th country to sign the Artemis Accords, enabling cooperation with NASA and other space agencies for the peaceful exploration of the Moon and Mars. The discussions also addressed Uzbekistan's goals to increase annual copper production to 500,000 tonnes and uranium to 10,000 tonnes by 2030.

Rubio also met with Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi to discuss the U.S.-Kazakhstan Enhanced Strategic Partnership. Rubio commended Kazakhstan's commitment to join the Abraham Accords and expressed interest in visiting the country following the G20 summit in Miami this December. These meetings occurred within the framework of a C5+1 gathering, where the U.S. and five Central Asian nations coordinated on regional prosperity and ICT infrastructure.