US and Central Asian Nations Launch Critical Minerals Roadmap

The United States and representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan convened in Astana on June 10, 2026, for the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue. Co-chaired by Sergio Gor, U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, and Kazakhstan's Minister of Industry and Construction Yersaiyn Nagaspayev, the meeting aimed to implement commitments from a November 2025 presidential summit. The parties developed a roadmap focusing on geological exploration, extraction, and processing to build resilient global supply chains and reduce reliance on China.

The diplomatic talks were immediately followed on June 11 by the 16th International Mining and Metallurgy Congress and Exhibition (AMM 2026). During this event, a delegation of over 20 American companies joined government officials to shift focus from diplomatic dialogue to industrial execution. U.S. officials emphasized that economic security depends on diversifying mineral access, while the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation explored funding for regional infrastructure.

Kazakhstan used the summit to signal a strategic shift from exporting raw materials to developing domestic high-value processing and manufacturing. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced the government will allocate $470 million for geological exploration between 2026 and 2028. To attract this investment, Kazakhstan highlighted its digitalization reforms and the adoption of international reporting standards.