On June 10, Astana hosted the second meeting of the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue, bringing together representatives from Central Asia and the United States. Uzbekistan was represented at the meeting by the Minister of Mining and Geology, Bobur Islamov. The US delegation was led by Sergio Gor, Special Envoy of the US President for South and Central Asia.
"Critical minerals are essential for our daily needs and technologies—powering infrastructure, industry, and national defense. President Trump deeply understands Central Asia’s key role. Working closely with reliable partners across the C5, we are focused on securing stable access to these resources while building resilient, transparent, and market-driven supply chains," Gor wrote on the social media platform X.
During his address, Gor noted that Central Asia "has not received the level of attention from the United States that it deserves" and that the Donald Trump administration views Central Asia as a dependable partner and a region of rapidly growing strategic value, according to The Astana Times.
"Central Asia matters greatly to us. We want to be engaged, strengthen partnerships, and identify opportunities that benefit both the United States and the nations of this region," the US Presidential Special Envoy stated.
Gor noted that securing supply chains for critical minerals remains one of the top priorities of the Trump administration. According to him, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is currently exploring potential investments in critical mineral resources, telecommunications, and infrastructure projects across Central Asia.
"The DFC sees the potential to turn the region's critical mineral resources into the foundation of a new era of industrial development. It also recognizes opportunities in telecommunications, infrastructure, and connectivity, including along the Trans-Caspian Corridor, which we believe could become one of the defining trade routes of the 21st century," Gor said.
In February 2026, the United States and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding critical mineral supply chains. The document was signed by Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov, and US First Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, during a ministerial meeting in Washington, which brought together representatives from 54 nations.
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