The leaders of Central Asia are navigating a busy diplomatic calendar, with their next major stop reportedly being Washington D.C. A summit with the US president is planned for November 6, according to the leaders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
This meeting will cap off a year of intense, high-level diplomacy for the region. The five presidents have already gathered for similar summits with Chinese, European, and Russian leaders in recent months.
The unconfirmed status of attendance from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan highlights the delicate balancing act these nations must perform. They are caught between their powerful neighbors, Russia and China, and growing interest from the West.
The region, home to 80 million people, is abundant in natural resources, including coveted rare earth minerals. This wealth, combined with its potential as a trade logistics hub, has put it at the center of a global contest for influence.
The war in Ukraine has served as a catalyst, prompting the five former Soviet states to diversify their foreign policy and economic partnerships, reducing their decades-long dependence on Moscow.