The foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan met with the U.S. Secretary of State in Samarkand on October 19, 2026, for the C5+1 Ministerial, releasing a joint statement that sets out a wide-ranging vision for enduring U.S.-Central Asian partnership across trade, energy, security, and digital connectivity.
The meeting marked more than ten years since the first C5+1 Ministerial, which the statement describes as an important step in building a diplomatic platform grounded in shared respect for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The gathering also coincided with the five Central Asian states celebrating 35 years of independence and the United States commemorating 250 years of its own.
On economic integration, the governments committed to developing the Trans-Caspian Trade Route as a vehicle for two-way trade and investment between Central Asia and the United States. Supporting measures include expanded intraregional trade, improved transport connectivity, harmonized customs procedures, and stronger industrial cooperation. The statement also envisions Central Asian enterprises gaining expanded access to the U.S. market, while the B5+1 business platform is expected to generate further commercial opportunities for American companies operating in the region.
Energy and natural resources feature prominently in the agenda. The governments stated their intention to develop integrated, high-value supply chains and to exchange expertise on managing geological data, describing data as "gold." They also called for expanded mineral extraction and processing and for creating pathways to bring value-added products from the region to international markets.
On security, the statement places particular importance on countering terrorism, transnational organized crime, illegal immigration, human trafficking, illicit drug trafficking, and arms trafficking, as well as enhanced cybersecurity cooperation. The governments also welcomed longstanding collaboration on nuclear materials security and pledged to deepen practical cooperation on nuclear safeguards and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, building on the existing Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.
The statement closes with a reaffirmation of the C5+1 governments' commitment to preserving the rich cultural legacies of all member countries alongside their pursuit of opportunities in modern industries.
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