US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Calls C5+1 Meeting in Samarkand a Step Toward Building Strategic Relations
Before departing for Uzbekistan to attend a C5+1 ministerial meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with journalists at Joint Base Andrews, explaining the strategic significance of the upcoming talks with the foreign ministers of five Central Asian nations. A transcript of the exchange was released by the US Department of State.
Responding to a question about why this particular moment was chosen for a visit to the region, the top US diplomat noted that the date was coordinated to ensure the attendance of all the foreign ministers from Central Asia.
Rubio observed that foreign policy often suffers from an over-fixation on immediate crises, where diplomatic visits occur only in response to emerging problems. He emphasized that the dialogue with Central Asia represents a key strategic priority, through which the United States seeks to cultivate systematic, long-term relations.
The C5+1 format—comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States—is viewed by Washington as a vital instrument for sustained regional engagement. This latest diplomatic gathering in Samarkand underscores the parties' commitment to deepening multilateral cooperation across the realms of economy, security, energy, and digitalization.
