Marco Rubio heads to Uzbekistan and India with business delegation
The US secretary of state began the trip on October 17 ahead of a Central Asian ministerial meeting, with energy, minerals and business ties on the agenda.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a trip to Uzbekistan and India on October 17, with a large business delegation and a planned meeting with Central Asian ministers in Samarkand. The visit puts trade, energy and access to resources at the centre of Washington’s talks with a region where China has expanded its commercial reach.
Rubio was scheduled to arrive in Samarkand on October 18 for talks under the C5+1 format, which brings together the United States and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Reuters reported. AFP said the ministerial meeting was planned for Monday, October 19. More than 200 business executives were expected to accompany Rubio to Uzbekistan, according to Reuters, while AFP described a delegation of 200 business leaders.
Energy and minerals on the Central Asia agenda
A senior State Department official described the visit as a sign of US goodwill toward a deepening partnership with Central Asia, especially in energy, AFP reported. Rubio called it an important relationship before departing and said Washington wanted to build ties with countries in the region, according to AFP. Those are stated aims for the trip; the planned talks have yet to establish any agreement.
The commercial focus reflects competition for Central Asia’s energy and mineral resources. AFP reported that China is the main trading partner of all five countries and that Chinese companies have pursued natural gas in Turkmenistan, uranium in Kazakhstan and rare earths in Tajikistan. Reuters reported that US officials have highlighted the region’s resource potential, while a Central Asian diplomat said the Trump administration had focused its commercial efforts on access to rare earth minerals.
President Donald Trump hosted the five Central Asian leaders at the White House in November 2025, Reuters reported. That meeting provides a recent diplomatic backdrop for Rubio’s visit, as Washington seeks closer commercial ties with governments situated between China, Russia and Iran.
Rubio’s planned stops in India
After Uzbekistan, Rubio is due to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar in India and meet business leaders, AFP reported. One subject he intends to raise is Reliance Industries’ plan to finance a refinery in Texas. The report described that as a topic for discussion during the visit, rather than an agreement reached on the trip.
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Sources and context
- Rubio heads to Central Asia while other US officials hit foreign policy hot spotsThe Straits Times, carrying Reuters reporting
- Rubio heads to Central Asia and India to deepen US business ties and counter ChinaMalay Mail, carrying AFP reporting
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.