Rubio heads to Central Asia while other US officials hit foreign policy hot spots
WASHINGTON: While the Iran war smolders, Saudi Arabia fights the Houthis and a new rift opens in US-Ukraine relations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels on Sunday to Uzbekistan, a nation far removed from the biggest US foreign policy challenges. The top US diplomat is scheduled to land in Samarkand on Sunday to meet with leaders from the C5+1, a grouping that brings together the United…
While the Iran conflict persists, Saudi Arabia battles the Houthis and US-Ukraine ties undergo strain, Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks on a journey to Uzbekistan on Sunday. Positioned far from the foremost US foreign policy concerns, Rubio is set to meet with officials from the C5+1 - an alliance comprising the United States and five post-Soviet Muslim-majority states.
Historically underrepresented in US diplomatic focus, Central Asia, a region rich in resources and situated between China, Russia, and Iran, is now being accorded greater attention. Though prior US administrations overlooked this area, recent meetings, including one between Trump and Kazakh President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the UN General Assembly, hint at a changing approach.
Notably, Rubio has bypassed Ukrainian and Russian capitals since assuming his role, unlike other aides like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Last month's trip to Greece, Portugal, and Iceland stands in contrast to this pattern. The diplomat anticipates discussions on sanction evasion by the C5 states, and the potential for a new trade pact with India, a nation Rubio will visit post-Uzbekistan.
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