Rubio’s Samarkand Visit and the Changing U.S. Strategy in Central Asia
By Talgat Kabdygali U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s October 18–19, 2026 visit to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marked a further expansion of Washington’s diplomatic and commercial engagement with Central Asia. Accompanied by more than 200 American business representatives, Rubio participated in the C5+1 ministerial meeting and held discussions focused on investment, critical minerals, infrastructure, and regional […]